Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 2 (1898).djvu/542

506 fine young cock that had been shot in his covers. It was in beautiful plumage, without a white mark on the neck, it had a conspicuously short tail, aud no spurs on either leg.— (Heworth, York).

Nesting Habits of the Moor-Hen.—In that most interesting book, 'Game Birds and Wild Fowl of the British Islands,' by Charles Dixon, I notice, in the details of the nidification of the Waterhen (Gallinula chloropus, Linn.), Mr. Dixon states (p. 82), "When the sitting bird leaves the nest it covers the eggs with bits of vegetation." Now, during the past twenty-six years, I have seen a large number of nests and eggs of this bird (principally in the neighbourhood of York, but also in various parts of the county), and I have never yet found the eggs covered; and my experience is confirmed by several practical field naturalists of my acquaintance to whom I have referred. I am of course quite aware that the habits of birds, like the colours of the plumage, are subject to variation, and perhaps this is a local instance; but that it is the rare exception (if it occurs) and not the rule in Yorkshire, I am firmly convinced. Perhaps other ornithologists will be good enough to inform us how far their experience confirms or refutes Mr. Dixon's statement.— (12, Howard Street, York).

The Birds of the Riffelalp.—I was much interested in reading Dr. Sclater's paper on the Birds of the Riffelalp (ante, p. 474), as I was myself in quest of birds there in 1894, and again in 1896. Two of the birds he has specified I did not observe there—the Water Pipit and the Alpine Accentor—the latter being one of the very few alpine birds with which I am still unacquainted. I did, however, observe the Rock Thrush above the Riffelberg Hotel. The Nutcracker is, as Dr. Sclater observes, a very conspicuous bird of the higher forests of Switzerland, and when chaplain at Gimmelwald I was frequently asked by sojourners at the Pension Schilthorn, "What was the large black bird with the white tail" which they so frequently met in the woods? Until I had myself seen the Nutcracker I was unable to answer. I also observed near Murren that beautiful little song bird, the Citril Finch (Chrysomitris citrinella), which has a pleasing song frequently uttered when on the wing. It is much to be wished that some handbook of Swiss birds were available for visitors, as in all my chaplaincies I found that great interest was taken in ornithology by sojourners in the hotels.— (Rathmines School, Dublin).

Birds of Hertfordshire.—As it is desired by the Hertfordshire Natural History Society to have as complete a list of birds of the county as possible, I should be glad, as Recorder of Birds to this Society, if anybody having notes on any species which have occurred in Hertfordshire would send me particulars of same.— (St. Cuthbert's, Berkhampstead).