BIRDS 142. Long-tailed Duck. Harelda glacialis (Linn.). A young bird of this species was procured at one of the Tring reservoirs on October 28th, 1892. 143. Common Scoter. QLdemia mgra (Linn.). In February, 1881, a pair of these ducks was seen on a pond at Bushey Heath, where they stayed for some days, the male eventually disappearing two or three days before its female. The next record is of one shot at Tring in October, 1884 ; this was a female. In November, 1898, an example was obtained near Rickmansworth. 144. Velvet Scoter. (Edemia fusca (Linn.). Captain Clarke-Kennedy stated (Birds of Berks and Bucks'), on the authority of the Rev. H. H. Crewe, that this bird had been observed on the reservoirs on two occasions, but gave no further particulars. 145. Goosander. Mergus merganser, Linn. Two goosanders were killed at Tring in February, 1885, and the keeper there saw two more on November 25th, 1895, and also two in January, 1896. One is also said to have been obtained near St. Albans in the winter of 1890-91. 146. Red-breasted Merganser. Mergus ser- rator, Linn. In the collection of birds belonging to the Hon. A. Holland-Hibbert at Munden there are a male and female of this species in splendid plumage, which were obtained there between 1840 and 1850. 147. Smew. Mergus albel/us, Linn. In the same collection there is a female smew, which was shot in the neighbourhood on December 28th, 1846. At Tring a flight of nine was seen in February, 1885, while a female was obtained at Welwyn on January loth, 1 89 1, and an immature bird was caught alive near Watford in October, 1 893. 148. Ring-Dove or Wood-Pigeon. Columba palumbus, Linn. This is a common resident throughout the county, whose numbers are greatly increased during the winter. At times it appears in immense quantities, the winter of 1894-95 being especially remarkable for this. 149. Stock-Dove. Columba eenas, Linn. The stock-dove is to be found throughout Hertfordshire, wherever suitable places are at hand for it to nest in ; it prefers old trees for its nesting-site, but at Westmill near Bunting- ford many of these birds at one time used holes at an elevation of 30 or 40 feet in a large gravel pit. 150. Turtle-Dove. Turtur communis, Selby. This is a common summer migrant, usually arriving about the end of April or beginning of May and leaving again in September or early in October. 151. Pallas's Sand-Grouse. Syrrbaptes para- doxus (Pallas). During the great immigration of 1863 two male sand-grouse were recorded as having been shot in Hertfordshire, at Dugdale Hill, South Mimms, in June. Curiously enough this particular place, though surrounded on three sides by Hertfordshire, is not actually in the county, and therefore we cannot rightfully claim these particular birds. However, about the same time nine females were obtained in the neighbourhood of Royston, and no doubt some of these came from the Hertfordshire side. During the next great invasion the county was more fortunate, as on May 2Oth, 1888, two sand-grouse, which came into the possession of Mr. F. M. Campbell, were shot on Jepp's Farm near Hoddesdon, out of a flock of forty. A week later Mr. A. W. Dickenson saw seven of these birds flying near Batch Wood, St. Albans ; while on June 4th Mr. Chapman of Bennington obtained a fine specimen at that place ; he first thought the bird was a golden plover on account of its flight, but when he heard its note, which he described as ' cruci, cruckj he recognized that it was a strange bird. 152. Pheasant. Phasianus colchicus, Linn. This bird is strictly preserved in most parts of the county, and large numbers are reared annually. Albino and pied varieties are not uncommon. 153. Partridge. Perdix cinerea, Latham. This is also a bird which is largely pre- served, but of course some parts of the county afford better partridge shooting than others. There have been several cases reported of this species nesting on the top of hay and straw ricks. Several curious colour varieties have been obtained in Hertfordshire, amongst which may be mentioned a pair of birds which had white wings and tails. 154. Red-legged Partridge. Caccabis rufa (Linn.). The French or red-legged partridge is fairly plentiful in many parts of the county. A curious nesting-place, chosen by a bird of this species near Royston, was a deserted wood- pigeon's nest, about six feet from the ground, 211
