HIRUNDINIDJE—MA R TINS. 



log 



Chipping; Hill, Witham, on November 13th, 1878 (29. Nov. 30), and Colonel 

 Marsden observed one over a pond at Great Oakley, on Nov. 26th, 1889 (29. 

 Dec. I). 



Mr. Buxton writes (47. 92) : 



" In the late summer these 

 birds gather in thousands to 

 roost in the reed-bed in the 

 pond in Cook's Folly, [near 

 Walthamstovv]. This seems to 

 be the general rendezvous for 

 the district, and at sunset they 

 may be seen flying in small 

 companies from every direction 

 towards this point. The con- 

 fused noise, as they swarm like 

 bees to gain a foot-hold among •"»--_- 



the reeds, is most remark- swallow, }i. 



able." (After Bewick.) 



Round Shoebury, Lieut. Legge says (34. 92) it breeds largely " under the 

 bridges over the watercourses in the marshes." In 1865, he saw the last on No- 

 vember 5th. In 1887, they were observed at Maldon after cold weather as late 

 as Nov. 4th (29. Dec. 10). 



Mr. Hope informs me that he knew of a swallow living all one winter in Epping 

 Church. Dr. Bree states (29. Nov. 20, 1875) that he had " a nest and eggs taken 

 while the old bird was sitting on them in the middle of December [1866] at Wal- 

 ton-on-the-Naze " The nest in question is still in Dr. Bree's Collection in Mr. 

 Harwood's possession. 



Mr. Clarke, writing about 1845, says (24) that two perfectly white specimens 

 had been taken at Saffron Walden. One of these, a young bird, is still in the 

 Museum there. Henry Doubleday records (23. 4871) having seen a pure white 

 specimen flying over his garden at Epping on the evening of August 19th, 1855. 

 A young fawn-coloured specimen was shot near Little Baddow, on November 

 2nd, 1880 (29. Nov. 13). 



Martin : Chelidon urbica. 



An abundant summer visitor, arriving usually early in April and 

 departing again about the middle of October, though individuals are 

 sometimes observed much later. They would be very much com- 

 moner than they are with us were it not for the Sparrows taking pos- 

 session of their nests. I consider that the late Col. Russell was 

 more than justified in all that he wrote upon this subject. 



His interesting paper, entitled " Martins and Sparrows," published 

 in ih^ Journal of Proceedings of the Essex Field Club (vol. iii., p. 20), 

 should be read by every one. In this paper he clearly shows 

 how the useful and ornamental Martins are being steadily exter- 

 minated by the injurious and obnoxious Sparrows, which take 

 possession of their nests. For many years Col. Russell carried on 

 an incessant war against the Sparrows at Stubbers, shooting every 

 one that appeared, until at last they became scarce birds. The 



