78 THE BIRDS OF ESSEX.
as " a summer visitor breeding in the furze-bushes." Around Saffron Walden, Mr.
Clarke wrote (24), about 1845, that it bred occasionally. King says (20) it is
common at Sudbury. Round Harwich it is scarce, though it breeds there (Kerry)
At Orsett, it is uncommon (Sackett). Henry Doubleday says (10) that in 1832,
he saw, in a collection at Colchester, " a snow-white specimen which had been
obtained near there."
Stonechat: Pratincola rubicola. Locally, " Furzechat," and
"Blackcap."
Chiefly a summer visitor, though partially resident, as some
remain throughout the winter.
It breeds commonly on Ling-
wood, Danbury, Mill Green,
Fryerning, and other furze-
covered commons through
out the county.
Henry Doubleday, writing in
Nov., 1831, to T. C. Heysham,
says (10) it "used to abound on
the furze bushes by the sides of the
forest, but, what is very singular,
it :has within the last three years
totally disappeared." In a later let-
ter (April 15th, 1833), he says (10) :
" I forget if I ever mentioned to you the total disappearance of the Stonechat
from us. About six years since it was very common, but for the last three
years I have not seen one, and have only a bad specimen of the male." The
same thing has been observed elsewhere. Round Epping it is now " much
more abundant than the Whinchat ; breeds on the open forest; a few remain
throughout the year" (Buxton—47. 91). Round Saffron Walden it bred
occasionally (about 1845), like its cousin the Whinchat, but was not common
(Clarke—24). King says (20) it is common at Sudbury. At Orsett, it is
" far more abundant than the Whinchat, especially in furze-covered districts,
such as Mucking Heath and Orsett Heath, where it resides (Sackett). Round
Harwich it is common and breeds (Kerry). During a spell of cold weather
about the middle of March, 1883, Mr. Travis received one (a female or young
bird) shot near Walden. On Dec. 4th, 1879, I saw a female between here and
Chelmsford, but comparatively few remain with us through the winter.
Redstart: Ruticilla phoenicurus. Locally, "Firetail."
A regular summer visitor, though rather uncommon, at least in the
inland parts of the county. Its arrival may usually be looked for
about the middle of April, when for a short time the birds are much
more numerous than during summer. It breeds sparingly in all parts
of the county, I believe, and used to do so, if it does not now,
abundantly near Shoebury.