123 THE BIRDS OF ESSEX.
Dr. Bree had a yellow variety taken from the nest by Mr. Docwra of Foxbur-
rows, Kelvedon, in the spring of 1880. The other young birds and their parents
were all of the normal colour (32a).
Cirl Bunting: Emberiza cirlus.
Though locally resident in most of the southern counties, this
bird seems to be very rare in Essex. There are but two or three
records of its occurrence in the county.
W. D. King, writing at Sudbury in 1838, says (20) :
" I cannot speak quite confidently as to the occurrence of this bird ; but about
four years ago, by the side of the chalk pits on the road to Middleton [in Essex]
I saw a bird on a low tree which I believed to be a Cirl Bunting. I had a
stuffed specimen in my possession at the time."
Chas. E. Smith records one (31. 53) shot at Latchingdon in 1854. Mr.
Arthur Lister, who is perfectly familiar with the note of this bird, informs me
that several years ago he heard one at Saffron Walden, but had unfortunately no
time to verify the observation further. There is, however, no reason to doubt it,
for Mr. Travis has a very nice specimen taken near Thaxted about 1885, and sent
to him in the flesh.
Reed Bunting: Emberiza schoeniclus. Locally, "Black-headed
Bunting," or " Reed Sparrow."
A fairly-common resident throughout the county, especially in
those parts which are more or less marshy. It is, however, to
some extent migratory.
It breeds very commonly round
the source of the Stour, in the
Bumpstead and Birdbrook districts,
but is rare at Maldon (Fitch).
Snow Bunting : Plectrophanes nivalis.
A scarce resident in the Scotch Highlands, but a winter visitant
only to Essex and the rest of England. It usually occurs on the
coast during severe winters in greater or less numbers, but indi-
viduals have occasionally been shot as far inland as Bardfield,
Dunmow, Halstead, and Epping.
Mr. Parsons shot one (8) at New England, on Nov. 29th, 1830, and another
on Oct. 25th, 1836. A male was shot at Bardfield in 1836 (Clarke—24). One
was shot near Halstead in the severe winter of 1837-38 (19. 34). Mr. Buxton