84 



THE BIRDS ^OF ESSEX. 



stead Park, where the wood echoes in early summer with its fine song." Round 

 Orsett it is uncommon (Sackett). At Harwich it is " scarce," though it breeds 

 (Kerry). 



Garden Warbler : Sylvia hortensis. 



A fairly-common summer visitor, coming to us about the begin- 

 ning of May and leaving again late in September. It breeds through- 

 out the county, though rather sparingly. 



It is not infrequent in the Forest and in Wanstead Park, where " it used 

 to be common about the avenues " (Buxton — 47. 90). At Harwich it is " scarce," 

 though it breeds (Kerry). 



Dartford Warbler : Melizophilus undatus. 



A resident, but uncommon and very local, though it breeds 

 in most of the southern counties, and even occasionally as far 



north as Sheffield. I am only 

 aware of three occurrences 

 in Essex, thcmgh careful search 

 on some of our furze-covered 

 commons might reveal the 

 bird, as it is exceedingly shy 

 and retiring in its habits. 



The Parsons Collection contains 

 a male, shot on South Shoebury 

 Common in Nov. 1837. Mr. Travis, 

 in June, 1880, received for preser- 

 vation a specimen shot near Saffron 

 Walden. Mr. Charles Smoothy shot 

 aspecimen, which is now in his collection, at Great Chesterford, on the Cambridge- 

 shire border, on Dec. 5th, 1870. Mr. Harting (38. 17) gives no Essex localities. 



Gold-crest : Regulus cristatus. 



A resident throughout the county, though not common. Its 

 numbers are often greatly increased in autumn by the arrival 



_---=.-^_ of flocks from elsewhere. 



Dr. Derham informed Albin (3. i. 

 98) that it built its nest " every year 

 in fir-trees growing before his house at 

 Upminster, in Essex, and that with 

 great art, hanging them \sic\ under 

 the branches in some thick obscure 

 part thereof." Mr. Clarke says (24), 

 it used to be " rather comrtion round 

 Walden," and on Oct. 9th, 1880, I saw 

 many in gardens there, probably new 

 arrivals. At Sudbur}^, Mr. Grubb says 



(39)) it is " constantly with Us." Mr. 



~^"~ Buxton describes it (47. 91) as " com- 



coLu-cREST, J^. mon" [in Epping Forest] "throughout 



DARTFORD WARBLER, J^ 



