BIRDS gth, 1884, while another was obtained there in December, 1894. In the latter year one was heard near Hitchin, and a specimen was obtained at Orton near that place in February, 1885. This bird is now in the possession of Mr. William Hill. 123. Glossy Ibis. Plegadis falcinellus (Linn.). This rare visitor has been obtained on two occasions, one having been shot on September loth, 1 88 1, at Balls Park, Hertford, by Mr. P. Ralli, while the other was obtained in November, 1887, about 200 yards from the village of Waterford, also near Hertford, by a Mr. J. Roberts. This latter bird was stuffed by Mr. Shrimpton of Hertford, and is now in the possession of the Hon. Walter Rothschild. 124. Grey Lag-Goose. 4nsercinereus,Meyer. The only record of this species is of a bird which was obtained at the Tring reservoirs in September, 1886, and was reported to Mr. Littleboy by the Hon. Walter Rothschild. 125. White-fronted Goose. Anser albifrtms (Scopoli). Captain Clarke-Kennedy in his interesting little book on the Birds of Berks and Bucks states, on the authority of the Rev. H. H. Crewe, who was at that time the rector of Drayton Beauchamp, close to the Tring reservoirs, that this species had occurred there, but he gives no further details. This is the only ground I have for including the white- fronted goose in this list. 126. Bean-Goose. Anser segetum (Gmelin). This bird has only been actually identified on two occasions, although it is probable that it has often occurred amongst the many geese which have been seen flying over at various times. The first of the two records is of a specimen shot out of a flock of fifteen near Royston, on January I5th, 1881. The other was obtained by the Hon. A. Holland-Hibbert at Munden, in the winter of 1890 91, and is now in his possession. [Canada Goose. Bernicla canadensis, Flem- ing. This species, which is really ' introduced,' is gradually spreading all over the country, and will no doubt in time be as much entitled to be called a British bird as Cauabis rufa and several other species. It has only occurred in this county on one occasion, when an example was obtained from a flock of about ten which were observed early in the morning in a field at Cokenach near Royston. It weighed 12 lb., and measured 5 feet 6 inches across the wings and 3 feet 3 inches in length.] 1 209 127. Whooper. Cygnus musicus, Bechstein. Although Captain Clarke-Kennedy stated that this species was formerly an occasional visitor to the reservoirs at Tring, it has cer- tainly not occurred there of recent years. In the winter of 1875-76 a pair of these birds frequented the river Gade at Water End, Great Gaddesden, for some days. About Christmas, 1892, about thirty of these fine birds were seen flying over Hertford, and eventually they stopped at Woodhall, where one was shot by Mr. Noble, jun. This bird was mounted by Mr. Seymour of Hertford, and its windpipe, which was preserved, was sent to the museum of King's College, London. 128. Mute Swan. Cygnus olor (Gmelin). This bird is kept in a semi-domesticated state in many parts of the county, and may sometimes, during very hard weather, be seen on the wing looking for open water. It is doubtful whether it has ever occurred in a wild state in Hertfordshire. The variety of this bird known as C. immutabilis is said to have occurred at Tring on three occasions. 129. Sheld-Duck. Tadorna cornuta (S. G. Gmelin). This handsome duck has been identified with us several times, the first being in 1883, when Mr. Wilshin shot one at Elstree reser- voir during Christmas week ; another was seen at the same place in December, 1896. At Tring reservoirs the Hon. Walter Roths- child identified one on January 8th, 1888, and Street observed another on January loth, 1897. 130. Mallard Linn. or Wild Duck. Anas ioscas, This species is to be found sparsely distri- buted in many parts of the county, but it is only at Tring that one can see vast numbers together. Here some hundreds are reared every year, and regular battues are organized during the shooting season. The system of feeding the birds on this water, the arrange- ment of causeways and jetties by which they are approached, and indeed the whole manage- ment throughout the year is most interesting. A hybrid of this duck and either the wigeon or pintail is said to have been obtained at Tring on February gth, 1888. 131. Gadwall. Anas strepera, Linn. The Rev. H. H. Crewe stated that the gadwall occurred occasionally at the Tring reservoirs, but there is certainly no record of it in recent times.
