228 THE BIRDS OF ESSEX. 



Order ALECTORIDES. 



Family GRUID2E. 



Crane : G^-i/s communis. 



There are only two undoubted records of the occurrence in 

 Essex of this rare straggler to Britain, although there is every prob- 

 ability that it was fairly common on our marshy coasts several cen 

 turies ago. One authority considers that this bird gave its name 

 to the parish of Cranham, near Romford — a somewhat doubtful 

 piece of etymology. 



The Rev. W. Palin (^More About Stifford^ p. 89) derives the name of Cranham 

 from the Cranes, which, he says, were " common in those days in the then-un- 

 drained lowlands about Aveley." He mentions a house in the latter parish, 

 known in 1647 by the sign of the " Three Cranes." Canon Babington mentions 

 one (46. 157), on the authority of Mr. Hills, " said to have been seen flying over 

 Sudbur}"." A modern record of its occurrence in the county is that by Mr. 

 Henry Laver, who says (40. xiii. 34 & 50 ii. 271) that on Friday, Nov. gth, 1888, 

 eight large birds were observed in a field on Elmstead Hall Farm, about four 

 miles east from Colchester. One of these being shot proved to be an immature 

 specimen, without the red mark on the head, and with the wing-feathers which 

 cover the tail not fully developed. It was secured by Mr. Laver, and after being 

 preserved by Mr. J. Pettitt, of Colchester, it was, by the former gentleman, most 

 generously presented to the Saffron Walden Museum, where it now is. The other 

 seven flew away. Curiously enough, rather less than a year later, the county was 

 again honoured by a visit from one of these birds. It was first observed by Mr. 

 Gervase F. Mathew, R.N., of Dovercourt, who recorded it as follows in the 

 Zoologist for November, 1889 (40. xiii. 435) : — 



" While shooting with a party, on Sept. 26th, in the adjoining parish of Little 

 Oakley, I had the pleasure of seeing a fine specimen of the Common Crane. We 

 were sitting at lunch under a hedge, when, happening to look up, I noticed — as 

 I at first thought — a large Heron flying towards us. It was then about a mile 

 off. Presently I looked up again, and by that time it had come much nearer, and 

 to my astonishment I observed that the bird held its head and neck stretched out 

 in front of it, as Herons never do, and from its immense size there was no mis- 

 taking what it was. It still came gradually towards us, and appeared to be look- 

 ing for a place whereon to alight, for it flapped its great wings several times over 

 its back until they almost appeared to touch, and then glided on with outstretched 

 pinions. This it repeated several times, and then pitched in the next field, and 

 well in view from where we sat. It looked a grand bird as it stood upon the 

 grass with the bright sun shining upon it. Unfortunatel}' it was a long way out 

 in the field, and out of shot from theihedge. However, I thought I would try and 

 stalk it, so crept down by the edge of the field we were in, until I reached a gap 

 near the bottom, which I crawled through into the next field, where I was well 

 out of sight of it. I then went on until I arrived nearly opposite to where I sup- 



