FRINGILLID/E— BUNTINGS. 



127 



As regards the second Essex specimen, Mr. Rowland T. Cobbold, of Ded- 

 ham, writes me as follows : — 



In July, 1866, I observed six or eight small birds feeding among the tops 

 of some spruce firs growing on my place here at Dedham. Having my gun 

 with me, I tried for some time to get two or three in a line, but being pressed 

 for time, as I had to catch a train, I had to take a quick shot, killing one 

 only. That it was a Crossbill was evident, but some white bars on its wings 

 puzzled me, so I sent it off to my friend Capt. Haward, formerly of Bramford, 

 but now of Little Blakenham, who is a good taxidermist, and who set it up. 

 He informed me that it was a specimen of Loxia leiicoplera, and asked for 

 another if I could obtain one. I afterwards learned that they had been seen in 

 some, fir-plantations across the river in Suffolk, where they made a great litter 

 below the trees, by pulling off the cone in order to eat the insects contained in 

 the galls [} Adelgethes abietis'\ on their stalks." 



Unfortunately this specimen (which probably belonged to Z. bifasciata, not to L. 

 leucopterd) is not now in existence. Capt. Haward states that the moth so injured it 

 that it was impossible to restore it, and it was destroyed. He describes it as " a male 

 in immature plumage. The lower bars on the wings were much more distinct 

 than the upper ones, which consisted of only a few white feathers. The rest of 

 the plumage resembled that of the young of the common species." 



Corn Bunting : Emberiza miliaria. Locally, " Common 

 Bunting," and " Bunting-lark." 



Occurs, I believe, throughout the county, though local and not 

 abundant. Round Chelmsford I fancy it breeds less often than it 

 used to do, and Mr. Clarke described it (24) as " not uncommon " 

 round Saffron Walden about forty years ago, while King says (20) it 

 was "common" around Sudbury in 1838. English, too, says (43. 

 88) : Around Epping it " used to be more frequent than now. I 

 have often had nests with eggs brought to me by the mowers." 



About Orsett, it is " fairly abundant, and b -eedi commonly " (Sackett). 

 Round Harwich, it is fairly common and breeds (Kerry). In 1887, Mr. Stacey 

 preserved a white variety shot at Great Waltham. 



Yellow-hammer : Emberiza citrinella. 

 An abundant resident. 



At Harwich, Mr. Kerry says 

 it was " very scarce," through 

 some unaccountable cause, dur- 

 ing 1887 and 1888, though pre- 

 viously common. Now, how- 

 ever, it is again increasing in 

 number. On July i8th, 1877, 

 I found a nest containing young 

 in an exposed position on the 

 bank beside the footpath and 

 road leading from the railway 

 arch in New Street, Chelms- 

 ford, to Bishop's Hall Mill. yellowhammer, male, y^. 

 Many scores of people daily (After Bewick). 

 must have passed within four feet, and within full view, of the nest. 



