158 THE BIRDS OF ESSEX.
Foulness (rented in part by two of my credible parishioners, who attested it, hav-
ing paid dear for the truth thereof), when an army of Mice, nesting in Ant-hills,
as Conies in Burroughs, shaved off the grass at the bare roots, which, withering to
dung, was infectious to Cattle. In March following, numberless flocks of Owls
from all parts flew thither and destroyed them, which otherwise had ruined the
country if continuing another year."
Not a few modern instances of the abnormal increase of this species (evidently
the Short-tailed Field Vole—Arvicola agrestis), causing great damage, have been
recorded, notably one in the Forest of Dean in 1813-14 mentioned by Jesse in his
Gleanings. Other similar cases are referred to by Mr. Fitch in an interesting
paper published in the Essex Naturalist (50. iii. 178).
Tawny Owl: Syrnium aluco. Locally, " Brown Owl."
A resident in the county, but locally distributed. It is becoming
rarer with us, and is now nowhere common. I have not heard of its
breeding anywhere, ex-
cept at Birch, Danbury,
Birdbrook, and Epp-
ing.
In 1832, Mr. Parsons
described it (11), as " com-
mon " in Rochford Hun-
dred, and W. H. Hill (12.
vi. 452) met with it round
Southminster about the
same time. Mr. Grubb
speaks of (12. vii. 19)
hearing it about 1833
round Lexden. W. D.
King, in 1838, described it
(20) as "common," round
Sudbury, but Mr. Grubb
says (39) that it is " now
very seldom heard " there.
Mr. Clarke notes (24) the
occurrence at Saffron Wal-
den about 1834 of two specimens, one of which is still in the Museum.
They are now very scarce there, but occur occasionally. Mr. Travis received one
early in October, 1880. Both English and E. Doubleday include it in their lists
of Epping Birds (43. i. 24, & 15), and Mr. Buxton says (47. 83) that in Epping
Forest they are " not uncommon ; may be heard in the evening at almost any
season ; Monk Wood," implying that they breed. The Rev. J. W. Maitland
also informs me that there is usually a pair in Monk Wood. At Boynton Hall,
Roxwell, is a pair shot there about 1850. Mr. Hy. Stephenson, head keeper at
Birch Hall, informs me that they are still fairly common in the woods there, and
that they breed regularly. Mr. Smoothy meets with it not uncommonly in the
woods round Danbury and has known it breed there, also in Boreham Park, and
at Toft's. They sometimes perch and hoot loudly on the chimneys of his house,
Old Riffhams. Mr. Kerry says that round Harwich it is " fairly common," though
le has never found the nest. It is common in the Colchester and Paglesham dis-