23S 
ON THE BREEDING OF THE HONEY BUZZARD 
IN ESSEX. 
By the Rev. F. C. R. JOURDAIN, M.A., M.B.O.U. 
With one illustration. 
[Read 6 April 1918.] 
W HEN Mr. Miller Christy published his excellent handbook 
on the Birds of Essex in 1890, he was unable to discover 
any actual record of the breeding of the Honey Buzzard (Pernis 
apivorus) in Essex, although the bird mentioned 1 as having 
been shot by Mr. Charles Smoothy at Little Baddow on 
18 May 1888 might probably have nested if it had been 
left undisturbed, while the same might be said of those 
shot at Audley End on 1 June 1838 and at Wivenhoe 
Park in June 1867. In the later list in the Victoria History 
of the County of Essex (i., p. 244 : 1903), by the same writer, 
it is stated that “ there is no record of its having bred in the 
county for many years, but it has not improbably done so, as 
individuals have occurred from time to time in the height of 
summer.” It must be remembered, however, that there is 
always the possibility that such birds may have been either 
unpaired stragglers which had failed to secure mates or 
wandering survivors when one bird of a pair had been shot 
from a nest. 
In the following case, however, the evidence seems to be con¬ 
clusive. In June 1847, a P 331 ' °f Honey Buzzards bred near 
the “ Rodney ” Inn, a well-known picnic-resort occupying 
an elevated position and enjoying very extensive views, 
in the extensive woods in the parish of Little Baddow. 
The egg was (or, more probably, two eggs were) taken 
by the Rev. Samuel Pearson, who was at that time curate 
6f Pentney and perpetual-curate of West Bolnev, in Norfolk. 
He was then a man of thirty-one. Six years later, he accepted 
the living of Brown Edge, near Burslem, in Staffordshire, and in 
1867 was appointed Rector of Bepton, near Midhurst, 
Sussex, where apparently he remained until his death. 
The egg (for one only is known to be now in 
existence) passed into the hands of Mr. W. H. Turle. 
After he left England, his collection was sold by direction of 
1 0 p„ cit., p. 171. 
