BROAD FEATURES OF ORNITHOLOGY OF ESSEX. 257
named covering over 900 acres and stretching a distance of
61/2 miles. The coast and the neighbouring marshes are the
most attractive ornithological feature. The Essex littoral is
remarkable by reason of its irregularity, as it is deeply indented
by its estuaries and many creeks, some of which encircle many
islands. Along the sea-board there are at many places saltings
and fresh-water marshes of varying extent. The actual shore
has two distinct divisions, which are not without importance
from the bird point of view. The beach between the Stour and
Mersea Island is mainly of shingle and that part which lies
between the latter point and the Thames is generally of a muddy-
nature. It is at or near the coast that the gulleries and ferneries
are situated and most of the heronries. Sewage farms are
recognized today as the haunt of birds and there are plenty of
them spread over the county.
With a rough sketch of the terrain in our minds we will con-
sider what knowledge has been gleaned of its avian inhabitants.
The study of Essex ornithology may be said to have been
started in 1730, when Samuel Dale published his History and
Antiquities of Harwich and Dovercourt, etc., in which is included
a "Fasciculus Avium." The author mentions over forty
species. Very little, however, appeared in print during the next
hundred years, so that prior to the beginning of the nineteenth
century we have only glimpses of the bird-life, which have come
to us fortuitously. The earliest knowledge we have of the
birds of Essex is of palaeontological origin. The remains of ten
species of birds have been excavated, and it is probable that
some are many thousands of years old. Among these species
are the Brent Goose, Mallard, Red-breasted Merganser,
Cormorant and Red-throated Diver, all of which still occur
commonly in the county. Excavations of British and early
Roman settlements which have been carried out in recent years
near Colchester have revealed information which, although
modern when compared with the geological record, antedates
the appearance of the Romans in Britain. Among the many
animal bones which were discovered was a small number of
those of birds, representing five species, namely, Raven,
Common Buzzard, Common Heron, a Swan, probably Bewick's,
and a domesticated fowl. This small collection is of great value,