230 THE BIRDS OF ESSEX. 



The last individual met with in the county was killed in 1879, under the 

 following circumstances (40. iii. 26, no, 144, 152, 252 & 296) : — On the morn- 

 ing of Friday, Dec. 5th, soon after daybreak, Mr. Albert Pertwee of 

 Woodham Ferris was " laid up " close to Hull Bridge in that parish, on the 

 north side and under the wall of the River Crouch, for the purpose of shoot- 

 ing Wild-fowl. While so stationed, he was surprised to observe a very large 

 bird fly leisurely across the river and over his head at a small height. Being 

 loaded with No. 2 shot, he fired, and brought down the bird, although but 

 slightly wounded. Mr. Pertwee had no idea of the species to which the bird 

 belonged, but brought it with him on the day of its death lo Chelmsford 

 Market, where it was purchased by Mr. Charles Smoothy. The bird, which was 

 a female weighing about ten pounds, was preserved by Mr. Travis, of. Walden. 

 On the night of the day following its death, there occurred one of the sharpest 

 frosts of the present centur}-. It is now in the possession of Mr. R. W. Chase, 

 of Birmingham. 



About the same time, several other Bustards occurred in various parts of 

 England. During the first few days of February, 1880, one was frequently 

 observed in a large turnip-field belonging to Mr. William Jonas, of West 

 Wickham, Cambridgeshire, just beyond the Essex border. On the 5th, after 

 many unsuccessful attempts, it was shot by Mr. Jonas's foreman. This bird, 

 (also a female), was also preserved by Mr. Travis, in whose hands 1 saw it. 

 It very closely resembled the Woodham Ferris bird (43. i. 59). Mr. Fitch 

 has recorded the occurrence of a third in Essex about the same time, at Man- 

 ningtree (44. i. v.). Mr. Fitch writes me that he did so " on the authority of 

 Major Russell, who told me of it, and said he hoped to get the skin. He also 

 told me who had it, and I believe it is quite correct, though I heard nothing 

 more of it. He quite believed in it, but I am not sure whether he had seen it." 

 I have no further information about this specimen. 



Little Bustard : Otis letrax. 



This rare winter visitant to Great Britain has occurred at least 

 nine times in Essex. 



Yarrell says {Zoological Jour^ial^ ii. 24; & I4. ii. 372) he possessed a female 

 killed at Harwich in Jan., 1823. Its stomach contained portions of leaves of the 

 white turnip, lung^vort, dandelion, and a few blades of grass. He adds that 

 another was "killed at Little Clacton in the winter of 1824," and a third " very 

 recently " near Chelmsford, of which he had been informed, he says, by Mr. G, 

 Meggy. This latter specimen (killed on Robert' Baker's farm at Writtle, during 

 the severe winter of 1837-38 — 28. ii. 229) seems to have excited much interest 

 at the time, as it was left by its owner at the CIiro7iicle office, Chelmsford, for 

 exhibition (19. 39 & 47). It is now in the possession of Mr. R. W. Chase, of Bir- 

 mingham. Dr. Bree records (23. 7352) a female (still preserved at St. Clere's 

 Hall), shot on the St. Osyth Marshes on Dec. 17th, i860. When first seen it 

 rose from among rushes and flew into some young clover. It was not at all 

 wild. Dr. Bree adds: "Dr. Maclean tells me one was shot at Berechurch a 

 few years ago." A pair was shot by Mr. Eagle, of Walton Hall, Walton-on- 

 the-Naze, from a field of turnips and cabbages on that estate on or about Dec. 

 28th. 1874. The3' were in full winter plumage, as were also others shot 

 about the same time at several places on the south coast. Mr. Eagle shot 

 one in the morning when after game, and finding it a rarit}', he went back 



