176 



THE BIRDS OF ESSEX. 



Merlin is merely a visitant [to Epping] in the autumn months, and that very 

 rarely. I only know of one having been killed here, and that a young female." 

 King says (20) that he only once met with it in the neighbourhood of Sudbury. 

 Mr Travis states (44. i. Ixiii.) that in 1880 two were killed at, Newport, and he 

 received one shot near Littlebury early in Dec, 1881. In Nov., 1887, one was shot 

 by a gamekeeper at Langford Park (41. ii. 33). Mr. Hope, who has two shot at 

 Slubbers, Romford, in 1887, says it is," not uncommon at Havering in the autumn." 

 It is " frequent" in autumn in the Colchester and Paglesham districts (Laver). 

 Mr. Kerry has one shot at Dovercourt by himself. 



More, writing in 1865, says (33. 10) : " From Essex, Dr. C. R. Bree writes 

 that the Merlin breeds in the marshes of the Rochford Hundred. Mr. Laver, his 

 informant, has brought up young birds from the nest " (37. i. 75)- In reply to 

 my inquiry. Dr. Laver writes : " There can be no mistake about their breed- 

 ing, as stated in the Ibis. They bred on the Paglesham Marshes, as well as 

 on Foulness, in the rank grass beside the marsh ditches, but I have not heard 

 of a nest for years, as I now never visit that district." As to its breeding 

 in that district, Mr. J. F. T. Wiseman of Paglesham writes : " I do not doubt 

 it, but I cannot say that it does so from personal observation." The Rev. J, C. 

 Atkinson writes : " I knowit used to breed a long while ago, but not commonly." 



Osprey : Pandion haliaetiis. 



A rare winter visitor or passing migrant in spring and autumn. 

 It still breeds in a few localities in the Highlands. 



Dale says (2. 396) : 

 " Whether this bird is 

 at any time to be seen 

 here [Harwich] I know 

 not ; but, this being a 

 bird that frequents the 

 sea-coast, and having seen 

 the cases of two of them 

 which have been shot in 

 this county, the first at 

 Maldon, in the house of 

 one Mr. Robjent, killed 

 near that place, and the 

 other at the Horn [Inn] 

 in Braintree, but killed 

 at St. Osith, in Tendring 

 Hundred, I do not doubt 

 > but sometimes they fre- 

 :5j:- quent this place." 

 --ii.- Mr. Joseph Claike 



^ notes (24) an Osprey 

 killed on the lake in 

 Debden Park, about the 

 3'ear 18 17, by Wilham 

 ;,, Harrington, a ganie- 

 "■^" - keeper. It had a carp 

 OSPREY, ':. weighing three pounds 



in its talons. Hoy re- 

 cords (12. V. 281) that a young individual in its first plumage was shot on Aug. 

 17th, 1831, in Stoke Nayland parish, which is in Suffolk, just beyond the Essex 

 border ; and in his Collection at Boyle's Court there are two shot by him at Stoke- 





