124 THE BIRDS OF ESSEX. 



port of a gun, even when near them. * » * At no time could they be said to be 

 wild or shy. * * * 



" What seemed most puzzling to me was that up to March they were gre- 

 garious, but after that they evidently went in pairs for about a month, during 

 which time they were in their brightest colours ; afterwards they were again seen 

 in flocks, and began evidently to assume a less bright plumage, as may plainly be 

 seen from specimens shot at different intervals. Several were procured up to 

 Januar}', 1836, of which I made no notes ; two or three were taken in Jan- 

 uary, a few in February, several in March, two on April 7th, five on April 19th, 

 two on May 3rd, three on May 17th, and finally * [one] * on June 1 2th, 1836, 

 after which they were once heard, but from this time I lost sight of them. 



" I ;was naturally very curious to know whether they would breed in this 

 country and requested several persons near whose neighbourhood they were oc- 

 casionally seen to keep a sharp look out for me ; but, though ihty were here 

 somewhat more [? rather le;-s] than twelve calendar months (from the latter end 

 of June, 1835, till the I2th of June, 1836,* * * ) I could never learn they made 

 any attempt to build. Some eight or ten years ago, early in March, a pair made 

 a nest at the Audley End aviary near this town, in which the female deposited 

 five eggs, * * * They, however, deserted them without ever attempting at in- 

 cubation, although I believe they were perfectly undisturbed. About the same 

 time a pair also built their nest in a gardeli in this town, on an apple-tree, but 

 they were shot before they had completed it." 



Mr. Clarke then proceeds ito recount how a young male, caught early in 

 August, 1835, and kept in a cage, soon became very tame, but died in about three 

 months. Mr. Clarke elsewhere describes it (24) as "an uncertain visitant " to 

 Saffron Walden. He details the occurrence of the following specimens : — Many 

 (of which four males and three females are now in the Museum) killed from a 

 large flock frequenting some pine-trees near " The Roos" in October, 1835 ; three 

 at Audley End on the 26th of the following Feb. ; other specimens killed on 

 Mar. i6th, Apr. 7th (two), April 19th (five). May 3rd (two), May 19th (three) 

 and June I2th (a male in dusky plumage). It is perfectly clear from these dates 

 that some at least must have bred at Walden. A flock of about sixteen was 

 again seen near "The Roos " on June 2 1st, 1837. Mr. Clarke has often told me that 

 in what he calls " the great Crossbill year " they were very numerous on the fir- 

 trees near '' The Roos," where he observed the young being fed by the old birds. 

 He also says he saw a nest in a garden at Bridge End, but he believes no eggs 

 were laid in it. Another observer (19. 81) says : " The Crossbill is still to be met 

 with in this county, several specimens having been killed during the last month, 

 a pair on the 24th ult." Earthy of Halstead wrote (19, 90) that he had received 

 " an unusual number on Saturday, 22nd of December, three males and two fe- 

 males, besides three other specimens in the two preceding months." He adds 

 "These birds are considered rare with us." Another correspondent writes (19. 

 90), " A great many of these birds have been for several months past in the woods 

 and grounds around Havering, four of which (out of a flock of about twenty) were 

 shot on the 3rd inst. in Major Anderson's shubbery at the Grange." " Three Cross- 

 bills have also been recently shot in Mr. Bartlett's garden at Chelmsford." Mr. C. 

 Walford says (19. 27) : — 



" On the 2 1st of July, I received two specimens of the Crossbill 

 to be preserved. One was a fine male, its general colour being a bright 

 red, and the quill-feathers and tail pale iDrown. It was found in a garden at 

 Coggeshall. The other was a female, the colour mostly a dingy green, inclin- 

 ing to a bright yellow on the rump. This was shot at Great Braxted ; and, as I 

 saw a specimen of this curious bird sitting on a tree atCressing, in the early part 

 of June, I am inclined to suppose they may have bred in this part ot the 

 county." 



Henry Doubleday mentions (10) having shot an adult male in "coppery- 



