ALA UDIDM—LA RKS. 1 43 



a resident in Epping Forest (43. i. 24), but Mr. Buxton (47) does not mention it. 

 iVIr. Joseph Clarke speaks of it (24) as " rarely seen " round Saffron Walden 

 about 1845. In the Museum there are a pair obtained at Epping on November 

 6th, 1839, and presented by Henry Doubleday. Formerly there was a specimen 

 obtained near Saffron Walden. I have been personally assured by Mr. Clarke 

 that many years ago they used to be fairly common round Walden, and this 

 statement is corroborated by Mr. Travis, but I believe they never occur there 

 now. 



Mr. W. H. Hill mentions (12. vi. 452) having met with it near Southminster, 

 about 1832, but the Rev. J. C. Atkinson expressly says (36. 71) he never met 

 with it in Essex. Mr. Charles Smoothy has kindly presented me with a skin 

 shot by himself in a ploughed field near his residence, Old Riffhams, Danbury, 

 whilst partridge shooting during a very high wind on Jan. 21st, 1889. It is the only 

 specimen he ever met with in Essex, and his attention was first attracted by its 

 unfamiliar note. 



More, writing in 1865, says (33. 124) it "nests only occasionally in Essex, ' 

 probably alluding to Doubleday 's observations in Epping Forest. Certainly it 

 does not do so now. 



Shore Lark : Otocorys alpestris. 



A rare and irregular straggler to our coast during winter. 

 Dr. Bree states (29) that in the winter of 1880-81 one was " captured close to 

 the cavaliy barracks, Colchester." He adds, " It is a very rare bird in this 

 locality." Mr. Kerry sa3's (40. vii. 120, & 46. 73) : about the end of November, 

 1882, "a large flight of Shore-Larks arrived on this part of the coast [Harwich] 

 and frequented the salt marshes. No less than thirty-five were shot." Mr. Hope 

 writes he has met with them " occasionally off Harwich about Christmas time ; " 

 but does not remember to have seen them in summer plumage. Mr. Gurney 

 {40. 225) has received one from the Galloper L.V. Mr. Ambrose telh me that in 

 3'ears gone by he has preserved specimens from Mersea, and also one shot beside 

 a wheat-stack at Shrub End, Colchester. Specimens are recorded from Maldon 

 (29. Nov. 29, 1862), and Mr. Kerry informs me that at Harwich, on Dec. 12th, 

 1889, five were shot out of a small party of seven. Other occurrences have 

 probably passed unrecorded. 



