132 THE BIRDS OF ESSEX.
named Tillett, It passed into the possession of Mr. Elrington, banker, of
Colchester, who sent it to Dr. Maclean, after whose death it went to the Museum.
It is still in fair condition. The foregoing statements are confirmed by the fol-
lowing memorandum among Dr. Bree's notes (32a) :—
"Dec. 30 1869.—A specimen of this bird was sent to me for identification,
shot twelve or fourteen years ago at Horkesley by Mr. Nicholls, the brewer, who
informs me that two others were shot at the same time. One of them was
obtained at Boxted by Mr. Osborne, and I can trace the other to Dr. Maclean,
I think, it having been shot at Ardleigh.—C. R. B."
Of another Essex specimen, I have received information from Dr. R. Z. Pitts
of Chelmsford, who owns a fine specimen shot at Tollesbury in Sept., 1872, by
Mr. Wm. Seabrook of Brent Hall, Boreham. This makes four occurrences in
Essex of this rare species. Beside these, Mr. W. H. Bott of Cardfield's, Boreham,
has an old cased specimen which not improbably was shot in the neighbourhood,
but there is no record to show.
Jay : Garrulus glandarius. Locally " Jay-bird."
A common resident, especially in thickly-wooded districts, in
spite of incessant persecution.
I understand that in one month of the year 1878
no less than ninety-five were killed in the woods
around Writtle Park. Mr. Smoothy trapped forty-
six in his woods at Little Baddow with eggs during
1887, and twenty-eight during 1889. Mr. Buxton
says (47. 84) that " the character of the thicket has
greatly encouraged this bird " in Epping Forest. An
outcry has been raised in some quarters against the
edict ordering the destruction of the Jay in the
Forest, recently issued from the Guildhall, but I con-
sider the action of the forest authorities perfectly
justifiable. No bird is a more inveterate destroyer
of other birds than this. Eggs are to it an irresistible
temptation.
In 1886, a remarkable instance occurred at Great
Tey of a Jay building in a high Portugal laurel
overhanging the high-road, and on being disturbed
it built a second nest among the ivy on a house, close
to a bedroom window (29. Aug. 7).
Magpie : Pica rustica.
A scarce resident, except in a few localities, though formerly
quite common. Its decrease is due chiefly to persecution by game-
keepers. In Dengie Hundred, I believe, it is commoner than in any
other part of Essex. In January last, whilst driving through Tilling-
nam and the adjoining parishes, Mr. Fitch and myself were often
able to see several old nests at once, built in the trees around us.
In May, 1883, I saw them quite common in the woods round Danbury. Mr.
Clarke, about 1845, described it (24) as " not uncommon " round Saffron Walden,,
and I knew of a nest near there in April, 1881. King describes it (20) as having