294 MR. 0. V. APLIN ON THE DISTRIBUTION IN GREAT BRITAIN 
A creamy-white variety was shot at Belstead, Ipswich, in the 
summer of 1882 (Zool., 1883, p. 186). 
Essex. Mr. Miller Christy writes: “A common summer 
visitor .... It varies considerably in number in different 
years, and appears to be decreasing with us.” And he quotes the 
following evidence: — Mr. Joseph Clarke said in 1845 that it was 
formerly not common round Saffron Walden, but latterly more so ; 
Henry Doubleday, in 1831, said it was then very common in 
Epping Forest ; Mr. Buxton said they bred in that district 
frequently, if not every year ; Mr. King said it was common round 
Sudbury ; in the Birdbrook district it was common, but at Maldon 
somewhat rarer. Mr. Hope wrote : “ It is very common in Essex ” 
(‘Birds of Essex,’ 1890, p. 105). 
The Bev. H. A. Macpherson saw it in Epping Forest in 1876 
(in lit.). 
Derbyshire. Mr. A. S. Hutchinson, of Derby, considers it 
rather rare in that district, but reports that it used to breed 
regularly at Littleover (in one particular spot) when he resided 
there a few years ago (in lit.). Mr. F. B. Whitlock writes : 
“ Scarce. I have only once met with it in the south of the county. 
In the Peak district I have never seen it” (in lit.). 
“This bird is not unfrequent in the neighbourhood of Duffield. 
It arrives towards the latter end of May, and visits the same spot 
for a number of years ” (Glover’s ‘ History of the County of 
Derby,’ vol. i. p. 146). 
Nottinghamshire. Regular summer visitor. Known to breed 
in a garden at Lenton, close to Nottingham, and at Colwick 
every year (Messrs. Sterland and Whitaker’s ‘ List of Birds of 
Nottinghamshire,’ 1879, p. 12). 
Mr. J. Whitaker shot a female at Rainworth in 1882, the first 
he had seen in North Nottinghamshire (Zool., 1883, p. 31). 
Mr. F. B. Whitlock, of Beeston, writes of South Notts : “ Occurs 
here every year, and breeds very sparingly. I have seen it in 
Clifton Grove, at Attenborough, and other parts. A specimen 
was shot at Mapperley in the spring of 1890, and another at 
Attenborough in the spring of the present year (1891). I have 
seen young birds obtained in the neighbourhood of Gedling and 
Basford” (in lit.). 
Staffordshire. Mr. J. S. Elliott, of Sutton Coldfield, writes : 
