164
THE BIRDS OF ESSEX.
20th, 1888 (Gunn—40, xiii. 144). Mr. Harold Raeburn observed an old male on
the wing at Bulphan Fen as early as Aug. 4th, 1889, and Mr. Pettitt received one
shot at Boxted in Oct. following. Mr. Brewis, of Chesterford Park, has a young
male taken there on Nov. 3rd, 1887. Specimens shot recently at Paglesham,
Harwich, and Tollesbury have been preserved by Mr. Pettitt.
Montagu's Harrier : Circus cineraceus,
A rare and accidental visitor, though once fairly common in fenny
districts. It has been known to nest several times in England
during the last few years,
but not in Essex.
Henry Doubleday mentions
(10) having seen in 1832 a spe-
cimen obtained near Colchester
in a Collection there. Dr. Bree
records " a fine specimen, in
the rich dark red plumage of the
young bird," shot at Bright-
lingsea in Sept., 1867 (32a & 29.
Sept. 28) ; also one shot about
April 30th, 1870, at Great
Holland (32a. and 29. May 7).
The former is still in Mrs.
Bree's possession. Mr. E. A.
Fitch informs me of one shot by
Mr. Llewellyn Owen at Bradwell-on-Sea, about 1875. During the third week in
November, 1887, a specimen was trapped at Paslow Hall, and preserved by Mr.
Scruby. In 1879, Mr, Travis received one shot near Walden. On July 30th, 1889,
Mr. Harold Raeburn observed a bird at Hornchurch, which he believes to have
been of the species. On the 11th of the following month, and again on the 23rd,
he observed a pair at the same spot, which suggests the idea that they may have
bred in the neighbourhood.
Buzzard : Buteo vulgaris. Locally, " Puttock."
Once a common resident in Essex, as throughout the British
Isles. It now breeds nowhere in the eastern or midland counties of
England. From the following statements it may be gathered that
although this bird bred not uncommonly in Essex among the woods
in Rochford Hundred, and elsewhere near the coast, up to about
the years 1830-35, it had even then ceased to do so round Epping
and Sudbury, and in other inland districts.
Mr. James Round, M.P., tells me that they not unfrequently visit his Park
at Birch, where he has a tame one at the present time. Round Harwich a
few are seen nearly every year (Kerry). Mr. Hope says it is
" often seen at Stubbers, near Romford. One was seen by the late Col. Russell
eating a hare. On Sept. 29th, 1881, about noon, I saw three circling round slowly,
off Woodbridge Haven, in Suffolk. When they attained a great height, they struck