108
THE BIRDS OF ESSEX.
July, 1836, he says (10) " For the first time, I this spring [obtained a male Pied
Flycatcher here. It was sitting on some rails by a pond in the town." Edward
Doubleday records this (15. iv. 233) as killed in May, 1836. English calls
it (43. i. 23) an "occasional visitor " to Epping Forest. One was shot in the
grounds of Chestnut Tree House, Leytonstone, about the middle of April, 1871 (29.
April 22). " A female * * * was taken in the Forest by a bird-catcher on the
13th of September, 1877. * * * It was kept alive for some days on chopped egg
and meal-worms. Two examples were shot in Theydon Grove, and are in the
Doubleday Collection " (Buxton—47.89). Mr. Smoothy has one shot near Thaxted
about 1878. On May 1st, 1881, Mr. Travis watched one near the Bull Lodge,
at Audley End. About fifteen years before he shot another near the same spot.
Mr. Stacey of Dunmow preserved a pair shot there by himself in 1882. Mr. Scruby
informs me of one shot at Dudbrook about 1883. The Rev. M. C. H. Bird found
a dead, but fresh, immature specimen washed up among some debris on the shore
at Canvey Island, on September 27th, 1889.
Mr. Harting ("Our Summer Migrants" p. 163) says he has known it nest in
Essex, but he cannot now recollect where. I know of no other instance.
Spotted Flycatcher : Muscicapa grisola. Locally, " Wall-
bird " (Orsett).
A common summer visitor, usually arriving about May 1st, on
which date, in 1883, I saw the first bird of that year near
Wethersfield. In 1888, it was
unusually scarce round Chelms-
ford.
In July, 1876, I found here a nest of
this bird, containing eggs, which was
built in a portion of the mud lining of
an old Thrush's nest, suspended loosely
in a bush overhanging the brook.
More than one similar instance has, I
believe, been recorded.
Family HIRUNDINIDAE.
Swallow : Hirundo rustica.
An abundant summer visitor, usually arriving early in April and
departing again about the end of September, though specimens may
not unfrequently be observed and even nests found in October or
November and later. Cream-coloured or white varieties are not very
rare.
In 1880, I saw the first at Walden on April 15th, and the last on November
17th, and I saw one at High Beech, on October 30th, 1881. One was seen at