FALCONID.^— FALCONS. 177 



by-Nayland in 1835 (29. Sept. 28. 1867). In Rochford Hundred, about 1832, 

 Mr. Parsons says (11) it was seen "On the coast and marshes very rarely." 

 Henry Doubleday mentions (10) having seen in 1832 a specimen in a Collection at 

 Colchester, obtained in that neighbourhood. Newman records one (23. 2764) shot 

 near Colchester about the middle of Jan., 1850. About Oct. ist, 1880, one (now 

 in Mr. Hope's Collection) was shot at " The Basin," at Maldon by a young man 

 named Arthur Clarke, who killed it whilst sitting upon a post (^Chelmsford 

 Chronicle, Oct. 8). At Cooper's, the bird stuffer's, in 1881, Mr. Harting saw one 

 that had been shot, flying over the Lea in Hackney Marshes during the autumn 

 (29. Oct. 8). Mr. E. A. Fitch writes on January 7th, 1887 (50. i. 45) : — 



" During the last fortnight a large Eagle has several times been seen haunting 

 the Upper Island (Northey) in the Blackwater. * * * About [half] a dozen 

 years ago Clark shot an Osprey in this same locality, and two or three gunners 

 who saw that and our present visitor suppose them to be the same species." 



It may, however, have been a Rough-legged Buzzard. Mr. Hance of Maldon 

 has a fine pair (50. ii. 242), which I have seen, shot on the river by Mr. R. 

 Bygrave some years ago. Others, Mr. Fitch tells me, have also been met 

 with there. One was taken on the ToUesbury Marshes during April, 1889, and 

 was preserved by Pettitt for Dr. Salter (Laver — 50. iii. 88). 



Red-footed Falcon : Tinnuuculus vespertinus. 



A rare and occasional visitor to England. It has only once been 

 met with in Essex, so far as I know. 



Dr. Bree records (29. June 7 ; & 34. 3615 & 3688) that a female was shot at 

 Alresford, by one Gilders, head-keeper to Col. Hawkins, on May 31st, 1873, 

 after severe gales, and was added to his Collection. Gilders believed that he had 

 shot another the previous year, but he was so close to it, and injured it so badly, 

 that it was not preserved. 



Kestrel : Tinnuuculus alaudarius. Locally, " Hoverer." 



A fairly common resident, though partially migratory, and 



rapidly decreasing on account of the senseless persecution it has 



to undergo. 



