264 
THE ESSEX NATURALIST. 
(Anas boscas), Teal (Nettion crecca), Wigeon (. Mareca penelope), 
Tufted Duck (Fuligula cristata), Scaup (. Fuligula mania.) 
The Mallard breeds commonly on the Essex fresh-waters, 
hence it is a frequent visitor to the salting at evening flight-time. 
Belated Wigeon and Teal may frequently be flushed from the 
creek in early morning, usually in pairs. The Teal seems to prefer 
the ramifications or " rills ” of the creek to the muddy entrance. 
A pair of Wigeon procured here in December 1920, shewed evi¬ 
dence on the plumage of having been in this smoky neighbour¬ 
hood for some time, but most of the Anatidae are stragglers from 
down the river. 
I have only been able to definitely identify the Scaup on one 
occasion (October 1905). The bird, a female, is now in the 
Stepney Borough Museum. Doubtless this marine species is of 
more frequent occurrence than is commonly supposed. 
The commonest wader is the Dunlin (Tringa alpina). Dunlins 
are present in small numbers on the mud-banks from September 
to March. During severe weather their numbers are augmented, 
and I have seen them so numerous over the flat towards Purfleet, 
as to give the impression of a drifting smoke-cloud. 
The Redshank ( Totanus calidris) and Curlew (Numenius 
arqnata) occasionally visit this district, but are not common. I 
noted a party of seven Curlew feeding near the mouth of the 
creek early one morning, on October 19,1905, and saw odd birds 
during the winter of 1919-20. 
Small shore-crabs (Carcinus mcenas), a favourite food of the 
Curlew, abound round the base of the lighthouse. I have not 
found them higher up the river. 
The Common Sandpiper ( Totanus hyp oleums) is a regular 
visitor to the creek on autumn migration, and I have once seen 
the Green Sandpiper (T. ochropus), a somewhat erratic visitor 
everywhere, in the same place. 
From mid-October to the end of February one is tolerably 
certain of flushing a Common Snipe (Gallinago ccelestis) from the 
“ rills.” The birds seldom fly far, but after circling high over¬ 
head, return, dropping like a stone into their favourite haunt. 
A specimen of the Common Snipe now in the Essex Museum 
was one of a small party (presumably of the same species) which 
was flying over the river at 11 a.m. The circumstance is some¬ 
what unusual, for the Snipe usually skulks by day and is strictly 
speaking not gregarious. 
