FRINGILLIDAE—FINCHES.
111
name to remain. There are records of two reputed occurrences of it in
Essex. Dr. Bree says (29. Oct. 5) Captain Dugmore, formerly of Col-
chester, told him that about Sept. 26th, 1878, he saw " a specimen of the
Purple Martin (Hirundo purpurea) on the barrack exercising ground
here. Having lived in Canada, where the bird is plentiful, and being
within ten yards of the Swallow as it sailed past him, he had no doubt
whatever about the bird being the one indicated. * * * The strong pre-
valence of westerly winds for the last month may be expected to have
blown over many birds. Colchester may now boast of being the locality
where three very rare specimens of the Hirundinidae and Cypselidae
have been procured [ ? ]." This record seems very unsatisfactory, but if
so good a naturalist as Dr. Bree gave credence to it, it is perhaps as well
to follow him. Mr. Fitch also writes me that he remembers seeing Mr.
John Squire, formerly of Wixoe Park, shoot one on the Stour about
twenty years ago, but he does not know the present whereabouts of the
specimen,]
Family CERTHIIDAE.
Tree Creeper: Certhia
familiaris. Locally, "Bark-
runner" (E. A. F.).
A common resident
throughout the county, es-
pecially in well-wooded dis-
tricts.
Yarrell gives (14. ii. 159)
as a vignette a wood-cut of a nest
of this bird which he says was
taken at Bower House, Haver-
ing. Round Orsett, it seems to
be uncommon, as Mr. Sackett
has only twice seen it.
Family FRINGILLIDAE.
Goldfinch : Carduelis elegans. Locally "Redcap" (E .A. F.—
once).
A resident in Essex, though local, not abundant, and to some
extent migratory. It is to be feared that its numbers in the county
are decreasing.
King says (20) it was " common " around Sudbury in his time. Mr. Buxton
says (47. 88) it " used often to be caught by bird-catchers on Wanstead Flats ;