132 THE BIRDS OF ESSEX. 



named Tillett. It passed into the possession of Mr. Errington, banker, of 

 Colchester, who sent it to Dr. Maclean, after whose death it went to the Museum. 

 It is still in fair condition. The foregoing statements are confirmed by the fol- 

 lowing memorandum among Dr. Bree's notes (32a) : — 



"Dec. 30, i86g. — A specimen of this bird was sent to me for identification, 

 shot twelve or fourteen years ago at Horkesley by Mr. Nicholls, the brewer, who- 

 informs me that two others were shot at the same time. One of them was 

 obtained at Boxted by Mr. Osborne, and I can trace the other to Dr. Maclean,. 

 I think, it having been shot at Ardleigh. — C. R. B." 



Of another Essex specimen, I have received information from Dr. R. Z. Pitts- 

 of Chelmsford, who owns a fine specimen shot at Tollesbury in Sept., 1872, by 

 Mr. Wm. Seabrook of Brent Hall, Boreham. This makes four occurrences in 

 Essex of this rare species. Beside these, Mr. W. H. Bott of Cardfield's, Boreham, 

 has an old cased specimen which not improbably was shot in the neighbourhood,, 

 but there is no record to show. 



Jay : Garndus glandarius. Locally " Jay-bird." 

 A common resident, especially in thickly-wooded districts, in 

 spite of incessant persecution. 



I understand that in one month of the year 1878 

 no less than ninety-five were killed in the woods 

 around Writtle Park. Mr. Smoothy trapped forty- 

 six in his woods at Little Baddow with eggs during 

 1887, and twenty-eight during 1889. Mr. Buxton 

 says (47. 84) that " the character of the thicket has 

 greatly encouraged this bird" in Epping Forest. An 

 outcry has been raised in some quarters against the 

 edict ordering the destruction of the Jay in the- 

 Forest, recently issued from the Guildhall, but I con- 

 sider the action of the forest authorities perfectly 

 justifiable. No bird is a more inveterate destroyer 

 of other birds than this. Eggs are to it an irresistible 

 temptation. 



In 1886, a remarkable instance occurred at Great 



Tey of a Jay building in a high Portugal laurel 



overhanging the high-road, and on being disturbed 



it built a second nest among the ivy on a house, close- 



lAv i/io. '-° ^ bedroom window (29. Aug. 7). 



Magpie : Pica rustica. 



A scarce resident, except in a few localities, though formerly 

 quite common. Its decrease is due chiefly to persecution by game- 

 keepers. In Dengie Hundred, I believe, it is commoner than in any 

 other part of Essex. In January last, whilst driving through Tilling- 

 nam and the adjoining parishes, Mr. Fitch and myself were often 

 able to see several old nests at once, built in the trees around us. 



In May, 1883, I saw them quite common in the woods round Danbury. Mr. 

 Clarke, about 1845, described it (24) as "not uncommon " round Saffron Walden, 

 and I knew of a nest near there in April, 188 r. King describes it (20) as having 



