264 THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
(Anas boscas), Teal (Nettion crecca), Wigeon (Mareca penelope),
Tufted Duck (Fuligula cristata), Scaup (Fuligula marila.)
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
arquata) 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 maenas), 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 hypoleucas) 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 caelestis) 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.