THE BIRDS OF ESSEX. 



Bree records that one of a pair was shot on the Stour at Nayland in Dec, 1864. 

 (29 Dec. 31). He adds that it is by no means common on the Essex Coast, and 

 that, although he had frequently met with Mergansers, this was the first he had 

 seen in the flesh, Mr. Buxton says (47. 99) : " A flock of fifteen in immature 

 plumage remained on the Basin at Wanstead for five days during the past winter 

 (1885)." Mr. Hope describes it as " common in the winter," Mr. C. H, B,. 

 Croxon has one shot at Tillingham. 



Red-breasted Merganser: Mergus serrator. Locally, "Saw- 

 bill Diver" (E.A.F.). 



A not-uncommon winter visitor to our coast, and occasionally- 

 met with inland. It breeds in Scotland and the north of Ireland, 



but not in Essex, 

 though Mr. Fitch in- 

 forms me that a 

 pair frequented Nor- 

 they Island in the 

 summer of 1888, 



Sheppard and Whitear 

 state (9. 59) that in 

 their time it was " not 

 uncommon on the Es- 

 sex coast." Mr. Clarke 

 mentions (24) a specimen 

 (formerly in the Walden 

 Museum) shot on the 

 lake at Debden Hall in 

 1837, and in the Collection 

 at Audley End is another 

 shot there by Charles, fifth Lord Braybrooke, in Jan., 1850. A specimen was 

 shot at Mersey Island in the severe winter of 1837-38 (19. 34). A male and 

 female were shot (23. 2775) on the Thames, near Barking, early in Jan., 1850, At 

 Harwich, it is very common during some winters, and in the winter of 1875-6 

 twelve immature females were sent from Dovercourt, one of them having killed 

 itself by flying against the lighthouse (Kerry — 34. 4827), One was shot near Mal- 

 don on Jan. 12th, 1876 (29. Jan. 22), and an adult male on the beach at Walton 

 on Jan, i6th, 1889 (Gunn — 40. xiii. 144). Mr. Hope describes it as " common 

 in the winter." Mr, Fitch informs me of the remarkable fact thatapair were seen 

 frequently round the shores of Northey Island during the summer of 1888. They 

 were observed constantly from the month of May until July 6th, when they were 

 seen for the last time by Mr. Fitch's son. These dates certainly suggest that the 

 pair in question may have bred, but it is almost impossible to believe that they 

 did so. 



Smew : Mergus albellus. 



An uncommon winter visitor to our coast and occasionally met 

 with inland. Like its congeners, it usually occurs in twos and threes. 



Graves says (7. iii.) that 



" in severe seasons the Smew has been taken in the nets of the fishermen in 



RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, nlalc, l/lo. 



