io8 



THE BIRDS OF ESSEX. 



July, 1836, he says (10) " For the first time, I this spring [obtained a male Pied 

 Flycatcher here. It was sitting on some rails by a pond in the town." Edward 

 Doubleday records this (15. iv, 233) as killed in May, 1836. English calls 

 it (43. i. 23) an "occasional visitor" to Epping Forest. One was shot in the 

 grounds of Chestnut Tree House, Leytonstone, about the middle of April, 1871 (29. 

 April 22), "A female * * * was taken in the Forest by a bird-catcher on the 

 13th of September, 1877. * * * It was kept alive for some days on chopped egg 

 and meal-worms. Two examples were shot in Theydon Grove, and are in the 

 Doubleday Collection " (Buxton — 47. 89). Mr. Smoothy has one shot near Thaxted 

 about 1878. On May 1st, 188 1, Mr. Travis watched one near the Bull Lodge, 

 at Audley End. About fifteen years before he shot another near the same spot. 

 Mr. Stacey of Dunmow preserved a pair shot there by himself in 1882. Mr. Scruby 

 informs me of one shot at Dudbrook about 1883. The Rev. M. C. H. Bird found 

 a dead, but fresh, immature specimen washed up among some debris on the shore 

 at Canvey Island, on September 27th, 1889. 



Mr. Harting (" Our Summer Migrants^' p. 163) says he has known it nest in 

 Essex, but he cannot now recollect where. I know of no other instance. 



Spotted Flycatcher : Muscicapa grisola. Locally, " Wall- 

 bird " (Orsett). 



A common summer visitor, usually arriving about May ist, on 

 which date, in 1883, I saw the first bird of that year near 



Wethersfield. In 1888, it was 

 unusually scarce round Chelms- 

 ford. 



In July, 1876, I found here a nest of 

 this bird, containing eggs, which was 

 >~ built in a portion of the mud lining of 

 an old Thrush's nest, suspended loosely 

 in a bush overhanging the brook. 

 More than one similar instance has, I 

 believe, been recorded. 



SPOTTED FLYCATCHER, %. 



Family HIRUNDINID^. 



Swallow : Hiriindo rustica. 



An abundant summer visitor, usually arriving early in April and 

 departing again about the end of September, though specimens may 

 not unfrequently be observed and even nests found in October or 

 November and later. Cream-coloured or white varieties are not very 

 rare. 



In 1880, I saw the first at Walden on April 15th, and the last on November 

 17th, and I saw one at High Beech, on October 30th, 1881. One was geen at 



