36 THE BIRDS OF ESSEX. 



skins which are of special interest in connection with the county, 

 ■comprise, among others, the three Parrot Crossbills shot at Lexden in 

 1862, a Scaup and many other ducks shot in the neighbourhood of 

 Colchester, as mentioned hereafter under the various species. Among 

 the bones are those of the Peldon Vulture, Essex specimens of the 

 White-fronted and Pink-footed Geese, <X:c. &c. Mr. Harwood 

 informs me that a great number of Dr. Bree's stuffed specimens were 

 sold shortly before his death, when he also disposed of his very fine 

 collection of eggs, which realised no less than ^200. Mrs. Bree 

 herself, however, still retains a considerable number of Dr. Bree's 

 specimens, including some from Essex, at her house at Colchester. 

 They are well preserved and well cased. Among them are four 

 Sand Grouse shot in the county in 1863. Other of Dr. Bree's 

 specimens are in the possession of Mr. Elvves of East Hill, Col- 

 chester ; Mr. H. Cameron of Woodchurch, Ashford, Kent ; the Rev. 

 E. Bree of Moulton, Spalding ; and Captain Henniker. 



The Colchester Museum Collection is not of great preten- 

 sions, and is not very extensive, either as regards the number of speci- 

 mens or the number of species represented. It is accommodated in a 

 small though not unsuitable room in the Borough Museum in the 

 Castle, where it is under the efficient care of Mr. F. Spolding, and it 

 is mainly, if not wholly, the property of the Colchester Natural His- 

 tory Society. A majority of the specimens are very well stuffed and 

 separately cased, and these are in good condition, though of consi- 

 derable age, but the rest are in a bad state. The former are, in all 

 probability, the work of the late Dr. Maclean, as they were formerly 

 in his possession. The most valuable specimen in the collection is 

 the Nutcracker from Horkesley, but there are several other interest- 

 ing specimens which were probably shot in the neighbourhood. As, 

 however, the cases bear no inscriptions beside the bare names of the 

 species, it is difficult to be certain of their history. In the Harsnett 

 Library, which is also preserved in the Castle, is a small collection 

 of birds, shot in the neighbourhood, belonging to Mr. J. Round, M.P. 



The Hope Collection, the property of Mr. G. P. Hope, of 

 Upminster Hall, near Romford, is of considerable extent and con- 

 tains many interesting specimens, as will be found noticed in the fol- 

 lowing pages. A large proportion of the birds are of Mr. Hope's own 

 shooting and stuffing, and were mostly obtained in Essex and Suffolk. 



The Hoy Collection, now the property of Mr. J. F. Lescher, 

 of Boyle's Court, Brentwood, is still preserved at that place, and is 

 without question the most valuable in the county, though there 



