BIRDS field close to Symond's Hyde Wood in the parish of Sandridge by Mr. A. F. Griffith, who had no doubt that it nested there. 89. Short-toed Lark. Alauda brachydactyla, Leisler. On March gth, 1886, the Hon. Walter Rothschild obtained a bird of this species in Tring Park while shooting food for a tame owl, and the bird is I believe now in the Tring Museum. 90. Swift. Cypselus apus (Linn.). This is a common summer visitor, which arrives about the beginning of May and leaves usually early in August. 91. Nightjar. Caprimulgus europteus. Linn. This bird is fairly plentiful throughout the county wherever suitable localities are to be found, and arrives towards the middle of May. It has a curious habit when put up of flapping its wings together, much after the style, though on a smaller scale, of the wood-pigeon (Columba palumbus). 92. Wryneck. lynx torquilla y Linn. This species is a regular summer visitor, arriving early in April. 93. Green Woodpecker. Gecinus viridis (Linn.). This is a fairly plentiful resident throughout the county. 94. Great Spotted Woodpecker. Dendrocopus major (Linn.). This is a bird which may be described as not uncommon in Hertfordshire ; in fact on the western side of the county it is plentiful. 95. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Dendrocopus minor (Linn.). This bird is hardly as common as the last- mentioned species, and on account of its shyness is far less often seen. At the same time it cannot be called uncommon in Hert- fordshire. 96. Kingfisher. Alcedo ispida, Linn. This beautiful bird is to be found in most parts of the county, though in some districts it undergoes much persecution from bird- catchers, who put up silk nets under the bridges, and then frighten the birds towards them. 97. Roller. Coracias garrulus, Linn. The Rev. C. A. Johns in his book British Birds in their Haunts states that a roller was obtained on September 2Oth, 1852, close to his garden. He was then residing at Callipers, Chipperfield Common. This is the only ex- isting record of this species in Hertfordshire. 98. Hoopoe. Upupa epops, Linn. This handsome bird has been recorded in our county on two occasions only. In May, 1882, an example in fine plumage was shot by a keeper named Gooch at Brocket Hall in the parish of Welwyn. The other bird had a happier time so far as Hertfordshire was concerned, although I am afraid it came to a bad end over the borders. It was seen in April, 1882, by Mr. Joseph Procter near the Hoo, Great Gaddesden, but did not remain long in the neighbourhood, and the fact that a hoopoe was killed near Wendover a few days later rather points to an unfortunate ending for this bird also. 99. Cuckoo. Cucu/us canorus, Linn. This is a common summer visitor, arriving about the second or third week in April. The following is the list of nests in which this bird's egg has been found in Hertfordshire : stonechat, hedge-sparrow, pied wagtail, reed- warbler, whitethroat, swallow and meadow- pipit. 100. White or Barn Owl. Strix flammea, Linn. This is a fairly plentiful species. Unfor- tunately it is a favourite bird to have stuffed, and this fact, in addition to the persecution it undergoes from keepers, does a great deal to prevent it from becoming commoner. 10 1. Long-eared Owl. Am otus (Linn.). The long-eared owl is rather locally dis- tributed in Hertfordshire, although where it does occur it is by no means rare. As it is partial to fir plantations there are not many districts in the county where it is likely to be common, but it is to be found in many of the fir spinneys on the northern border, especially in the neighbourhood of Hitchin. O2. Short - eared Owl. Asia accipitrinus (Pallas). This bird is only a winter visitor, appearing some years in considerable numbers, though generally rather locally. It is often flushed out of turnips and rough grass in October and November. 103. Tawny Owl. Syrnium aluco (Linn.). This owl is no doubt plentiful in parts of the county where there are old trees, but like its white relative it suffers considerable persecution. It is a bird which seems much inclined to make attacks on people who are passing near its nest, and one or two instances are on record of this happening in Hertford- shire. In 1899 Mr. H. G. Fordham sent me a specimen which had been killed by flying against the telegraph wires near Odsey. This 205
