lU 



THE BIRDS OF ESSEX. 



posed, as its shy nature leads to its being comparatively little 

 observed. There is good cause also for be- 

 lieving that it has increased considerably in 

 number during the last half-century, and in 

 some winters it may now almost be described 

 as abundant with us. Epping Forest seems 

 to be a stronghold of the species — indeed, it 

 ^.„^^ was Henry Doubleday's observations in the 

 ^v._ .ir^^AfFm^ Forest about fifty years ago which first drew 

 attention to the fact that this bird was by no 

 means so scarce as had hitherto been sup- 

 posed. The account of the species in the 

 first edition of Yarrell is largely composed 

 of contributions from Doubleday (14. i. 483). 

 I Many more of his observations, which have 

 HAWFINCH, 1/7. never yet been published, are to be found in 



his letters to Heysham, whence I have culled many extracts. 



Mr. J. Gurney Barclay has given (23. 569) an interesting account of their 

 habits in the neighbourhood of Walthamstow. He says : 



"This species came first under my notice about the winter of 1S25, when a 

 fine cock bird fell dead on the gravel walk before the gardener — from what cause 

 was not ascertained ; but it was not until 1837 that I -was aware of their being 

 resident and rather numerous in the neighbourhood. * * » In the winter season, 

 and especially during severe weather, these birds are frequently seen in the neigh- 

 bourhood of the forest in large flo:ks of from fifty to a hundred or more, feeding 

 on the seeds of the hornbeam, to which they appear to be particularly partial ; and as 

 spring advances they disperse into retired spots to breed. I am inclined to think 

 that their shy habits, together with their being a very local species, has led to 

 their having remained so long comparatively unobserved." 



Mr. Clarke notes (24) that one was killed in the churchyard at Saffron Wal- 

 den many years ago ; seven (two of which are still in Walden Museum) at Audley 

 End in 1832 ; another in the garden at Audley End on Feb. 7th, 1837, and one 

 at Walden in 1844. 



Hy. Doubleday, in Aug., 1831, sa3's (10) : 



"The Grosbeak, I believe, breeds in our extensive forest every year, and I 

 doubt not I can procure thee specimens in November, as at that time it draws 

 near gardens and plantations to feed on the stones of the plum, cherry, laurel, 

 &c. It is an extremely shy bird and difficult to shoot, as it darts with great 

 rapidity through the laurels, firs, &c., and seldom shows itself till out of reach of 

 shot." 



On June 12th, 1832, he writes (10) : 



" I am happy in being able to send one rarity, viz., two eggs of the Haw- 

 finch, which till this spring 1 never saw. The nest is built in the most careless 

 manner, and consists of a few coarse sticks, then a layer of that coarse lichen 

 which grows on the stems of oaks, and [is] lined with a few ro ts. It is also 

 extremely shallow. They seem to build in any situation. The nest I took was 

 in a whitethorn, about four feet high, and I saw one on the top of a tall spruce 

 fir. * * I have now a full-grown young Hawfinch in confinement, which was 

 caught in our forest about a fortnight ago." 



On Mar. 22nd, 1836, he writes (10), " Many Hawfinches may be daily seen in 



