124
THE BIRDS OF ESSEX.
port of a gun, even when near them. * » » At no time could they be said to be
wild or shy. * * *
" What seemed most puzzling to me was that up to March they were gre-
garious, but after that they evidently went in pairs for about a month, during
which time they were in their brightest colours ; afterwards they were again seen
in flocks, and began evidently to assume a less bright plumage, as may plainly be
seen from specimens shot at different intervals. Several were procured up to
January, 1836, of which I made no notes ; two or three were taken in Jan-
uary, a few in February, several in March, two on April 7th, five on April 19th,
two on May 3rd, three on May 17th, and finally * [one]* on June 12th, 1836,
after which they were once heard, but from this time I lost sight of them.
" I was naturally very curious to know whether they would breed in this
country and requested several persons near whose neighbourhood they were oc-
casionally seen to keep a sharp look out for me ; but, though they were here
somewhat more [? rather less] than twelve calendar months (from the latter end
of June, 1835, till the 12th of June, 1836,* * * ) I could never learn they made
any attempt to build. Some eight or ten years ago, early in March, a pair made
a nest at the Audley End aviary near this town, in which the female deposited
five eggs. * * * They, however, deserted them without ever attempting at in-
cubation, although I believe they were perfectly undisturbed. About the same
time a pair also built their nest in a garden in this town, on an apple-tree, but
they were shot before they had completed it,"
Mr. Clarke then proceeds to recount how a young male, caught early in
August, 1835, and kept in a cage, soon became very tame, but died in about three
months. Mr. Clarke elsewhere describes it (24) as " an uncertain visitant " to
Saffron Walden. He details the occurrence of the following specimens :—Many
(of which four males and three females are now in the Museum) killed from a
large flock frequenting some pine-trees near "The Roos" in October, 1835 ; three
at Audley End on the 26th of the following Feb. ; other specimens killed on
Mar. 16th, Apr. 7th (two), April 19th (five), May 3rd (two), May 19th (three)
and June 12th (a male in dusky plumage). It is perfectly clear from these dates
that some at least must have bred at Walden. A flock of about sixteen was
again seen near "The Roos " on June 21st, 1837. Mr. Clarke has often told me that
in what he calls " the great Crossbill year " they were very numerous on the fir-
trees near " The Roos," where he observed the young being fed by the old birds.
He also says he saw a nest in a garden at Bridge End, but he believes no eggs
were laid in it. Another observer (19. 81) says : " The Crossbill is still to be met
with in this county, several specimens having been killed during the last month,
a pair on the 24th ult." Earthy of Halstead wrote (19. 90) that he had received
" an unusual number on Saturday, 22nd of December, three males and two fe-
males, besides three other specimens in the two preceding months." He adds
" These birds are considered rare with us." Another correspondent writes (19.
go), " A great many of these birds have been for several months past in the woods
and grounds around Havering, four of which (out of a flock of about twenty) were
shot on the 3rd inst. in Major Anderson's Shubbery at the Grange." " Three Cross-
bills have also been recently shot in Mr. Bartlett's garden at Chelmsford." Mr. C.
Walford says (19. 27) :—
"On the 21 st of July, I received two specimens of the Crossbill
to be preserved. One was a fine male, its general colour being a bright
red, and the quill-feathers and tail pale brown. It was found in a garden at
Coggeshall. The other was a female, the colour mostly a dingy green, inclin-
ing to a bright yellow on the rump. This was shot at Great Braxted ; and, as I
saw a specimen of this curious bird sitting on a tree at Cressing, in the early part
of June, I am inclined to suppose they may have bred in this part of the
county."
Henry Doubleday mentions (10) having shot an adult male in "coppery-