112
THE BIRDS OF ESSEX.
common about the lanes of Loughton." The Rev. H. A. Macpherson says (29.
Dec. 17, 1887 & 41.ii. 20) that in 1876 a few pairs nested in private grounds round
Chingford, and that the late Mr. Cartwright, bird-stuffer, used to take a good
many on a common in the vicinity [? Nazing Common] but of late his takes
became more scanty. Mr. W. Crouch says it occurs at Barkingside, but is " not
common now." At Harwich it is fairly common when migrating, and a few breed
(Kerry). Round Orsett, it is uncommon (Sackett). Dr. Laver says it is " fre-
quent in the Colchester and Paglesham districts, but less so than formerly."
There are usually a few small flocks about here in winter, especially if the
weather be sharp, but I believe they nearly all go elsewhere to breed, as I
have very seldom seen a nest here. In the winters of 1876-79 they were rather
unusually numerous. Mr. Hope observes that " about Oct. 10th it arrives on
the Suffolk and Essex coasts in flocks of from ten to fifty. They feed awhile on
the thistles on the sea-wall and then coast along southward."
Siskin : Chrysomitris spinus. Locally, " Barley Bird."*
A winter visitor only to Essex, and much commoner some years
than others. Further north it has been known to breed sparingly,
and in the north of Scotland
freely, but with us never.
Chas. E. Smith says (31. 53), "a
dozen were shot this spring [1858]
near Halstead." King described it
(20) as " a very rare winter visitor "
to the Sudbury district. Round Wal-
den, Mr. Clarke says it is seen in
" small flocks in winter " (24), and
I have myself occasionally seen small
flocks there, but Mr. Travis says they
used to be much commoner than now.
He remembers seeing flocks of over
one hundred in the Park. Mr. Bux-
ton says (47. 88) it is an "occasional winter visitor to Wanstead Park. I saw
one about the alders last spring (1883) ; three were seen in February, 1884."
Mr. Grubb says (12. vii. 18) it abounded on the alders round Lexden Springs in
1833. Round Harwich it is common during migration (Kerry). It is fairly
common round Danbury (Smoothy).
Strange Finch. —Mr. Travis of Saffron Walden has at the present time in
confinement a strange finch which was captured close to the town in some fields
on the Debden Road about September or October, 1888. I have inspected the
bird, but am not able to make any suggestion as to its species. The follow-
ing is a brief description of it: Bill, remarkably conical ; general colours,
greenish-brown and dark brown ; tail-coverts and lower part of back, dirty
greenish-yellow ; breast and under-parts, greyish-brown, tinged with buff, and
striped down the middle of each feather with dark brown ; secondaries
* Charnock's Essex Glossary, p. 3.