164 



THE BIRDS OF ESSEX. 



20th, 1888 (Gunn — 40. xiii. 144). Mr. Harold Raeburn observed an old male on 

 the wing at Bulphan Fen as early as Aug, 4th, 1889, and Mr. Pettitt received one 

 shot at Boxted in Oct. following. Mr. Brewis, of Chesterford Park, has a young 

 male taken there on Nov. 3rd, 1887. Specimens shot recently at Paglesham, 

 Harwich, and ToUesbury have been preserved by Mr. Pettitt. 



Montagu's Harrier: Circus cineraceiis. 



A rare and accidental visitor, though once fairly common in fenny- 

 districts. It has been known to nest several times in England 



during the last ,few years, 

 but not in Essex. 



Henry Doubleday mentions 

 (10) having seen in 1832 a spe- 

 cimen obtained near Colchester 

 in a Collection there. Dr. Bree 

 records " a fine specimen, in 

 the rich dark red plumage of the 

 young bird," shot at Bright- 

 lingseain Sept., 1867 (32a & 29. 

 Sept. 28) ; also one shot about 

 April 30th, 1870, at Great 

 Holland (32a. and 29. May 7), 

 The former is still in Mrs. 

 Bree's possession. Mr. E. A. 

 Fitch informs me of one shot by 

 Mr. Llewellyn Owen at Bradwell-on-Sea, about 1875. During the third week in 

 November, 1887, a specimen was trapped at Paslow Hall, and preserved by Mr. 

 Scruby. In 1879, Mr. Travis received one shot near Walden. On July 30th, 1889, 

 I\h\ Harold Raeburn observed a bird at Hornchurch, which he believes to have 

 been of the species. On the nth of the following month, and again on the 23rd, 

 he observed a pair at the sameispot, which isuggests the idea that they may have 

 bred in the neighbourhood. 



1\I1INT\GUS H\RRIER, 



Buzzard : Buteo vulgaris. Locally, " Puttock." 



Once a common resident in Essex, as throughout the British 

 Isles. It now breeds nowhere in the eastern or midland counties of 

 England. From the following statements it may be gathered that 

 although this bird bred not uncommonly in Essex among the woods 

 in Rochford Hundred, and elsewhere near the coast, up to about 

 the years 1S30-35, it had even then ceased to do so round Epping 

 and Sudbury, and in other inland districts. 



Mr. James Round, M.P., tells me that the}- not unfrequently visit his Park 

 at Birch, where he has a tame one at the present time. Round Harwich a 

 few are seen nearly every year (Kerry). Mr. Hope says it is 



" often seen at Stubbers, near Romford. One was seen by the late Col. Russell 

 eating a hare. On Sept. 29th, 1881, about noon, I saw three circling round slowly, 

 off Woodbridge Haven, in Suffolk. When they attained a great height, they struck 



