FRINGILLIDAE—BUNTINGS.
127
As regards the second Essex specimen, Mr. Rowland T. Cobbold, of Ded-
ham, writes me as follows :—
In July, 1866, I observed six or eight small birds feeding among the tops
of some spruce firs growing on my place here at Dedham. Having my gun
with me, I tried for some time to get two or three in a line, but being pressed
for time, as I had to catch a train, I had to take a quick shot, killing one
only. That it was a Crossbill was evident, but some white bars on its wings
puzzled me, so I sent it off to my friend Capt. Haward, formerly of Bramford,
but now of Little Blakenham, who is a good taxidermist, and who set it up.
He informed me that it was a specimen of Loxia leucoptera, and asked for
another if I could obtain one. I afterwards learned that they had been seen in
some, fir-plantations across the river in Suffolk, where they made a great litter
below the trees, by pulling off the cone in order to eat the insects contained in
the galls [?Adelgethes abietis] on their stalks."
Unfortunately this specimen (which probably belonged to L. bifasciata, not to L.
leucoptera) is not now in existence. Capt. Haward states that the moth so injured it
that it was impossible to restore it, and it was destroyed. He describes it as " a male
in immature plumage. The lower bars on the wings were much more distinct
than the upper ones, which consisted of only a few white feathers. The rest of
the plumage resembled that of the young of the common species."
Corn Bunting: Emberiza miliaria. Locally, "Common
Bunting," and " Bunting-lark."
Occurs, I believe, throughout the county, though local and not
abundant. Round Chelmsford I fancy it breeds less often than it
used to do, and Mr. Clarke described it (24) as " not uncommon "
round Saffron Walden about forty years ago, while King says (20) it
was "common" around Sudbury in 1838. English, too, says (43.
88) : Around Epping it " used to be more frequent than now. I
have often had nests with eggs brought to me by the mowers."
About Orsett, it is "fairly abundant, and breeds commonly" (Sackett).
Round Harwich, it is fairly common and breeds (Kerry). In 1887, Mr. Stacey
preserved a white variety shot at Great Waltham.
Yellow-hammer : Emberiza citrinella.
An abundant resident.
At Harwich, Mr. Kerry says
it was " very scarce," through
some unaccountable cause, dur-
ing 1887 and 1888, though pre-
viously common. Now, how-
ever, it is again increasing in
number. On July 18th, 1877,
I found a nest containing young
in an exposed position on the
bank beside the footpath and
road leading from the railway
arch in New Street, Chelms-
ford, to Bishop's Hall Mill.
Many scores of people daily
must have passed within four feet, and within full view, of the nest.