VARIOUS NOTES ON BIRDS OF ESSEX. 19
Lesser Redpoll (Carduelis linaria cabaret (P. L. S. Mull.)).
Small party seen on the alders at Passingford Bridge on 26th
December, 1929.
Corn-Bunting (Emberiza c. calandra L.). Mr. J. E. S. Dallas
informs me that he identified three at various points on the
road between Saffron Walden and Thaxted, the first quite three
miles from the former town, and also one at Little Bardfield,
from 4-5th May, 1929.
Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava rayi (Bp.)). Mr. P. B.
Smyth states that on 4th August, 1929, he saw a party of from
20-30 near the "Basin" on Wanstead Golf Links. He was
of the opinion that it was a party of young birds on migration.
Redstart (Phoenicurus p. phoenicurus (L.)). Several
identified in Weald Park on 16th June, 1929. The bird appears
to be well established in this locality.
Sand-Martin (Riparia r. riparia (L.)). Mr. P. B. Smyth
observed a party of several hundreds settling on the ground near
the "Basin," Wanstead Golf Links, on 4th August, 1929. The
birds were no doubt on migration.
Wryneck (Jynx t. torquilla L.). Mr. G. Nicholson states that
he found a nest with six eggs in the stump of a rotten tree at
Laindon on June 13th, 1909. The eggs are still in his possession.
A bird was heard calling on several occasions at Danbury on
26th May, 1929.
White-breasted Barn-Owl (Tyto a. alba (Scop.)). Mr. G.
Nicholson informs me that a pair reared their young in 1929 at
Laindon in the same tree that was used in 1908.
Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoidcs forficatus (L.)). Since the
publication of A History of the Birds of Essex information has
come to my notice that the specimen in the Essex Museum at
Stratford was shot by the late Mr. O. W. Travers near Mildenhall,
Suffolk, between 1830 and 1840. Mr. W. R. Butterfield, who
was responsible for this statement, states that it is the only one
killed in Britain known to be in existence (Zoologist, 1897, p. 270).
Dr. C. B. Ticehurst, to whom I have submitted an illustration
of the specimen in question, assures me that this is undoubtedly
the bird which he had seen on many occasions when it was in the
possession of Dr. Otho Travers, son of the collector.
White-tailed (Haliaetus albicilla (L.)) or Golden Eagle
(Aquila c. chrysaetus (L.)). During December, 1929, news was