168
THE BIRDS OF ESSEX.
In Feb., 1839, " A very fine Eagle shot at Forest Hall," Ongar, was presented to
the Chelmsford Museum (19. 101). Mr. Hope says it is "often seen passing up
the coast, and is not uncommon off the main." In Rochford Hundred in 1832,
Mr. Parsons says (11) it used to be seen "on the shore, but very rarely ; one
killed at South Shoebury "—probably the fine adult shot there on Aug. 1st,
1835, and still in the Parsons Collection. Mr. E. F. Sheppard, son of the Rev
Revett Sheppard, formerly rector of Wrabness, writing to T. C. Heysham of
Carlisle on Jan. 19th, 1836, says (17) :
" Almost every winter we saw Eagles at Wrabness. Once, walking with my
father on the banks of the river Stour, we saw four together. They there prin-
cipally prey upon the Coots. It is a curious sight to see the Eagle drive up a
flock of many thousands of Coots—perhaps, previous to the Eagle's visit, extend-
ing over more than a mile—into a thick knot, and to see them with fluttering
wings scrambling over each other, some under water, some above. The Eagle
then, very deliberately, picks one up, and flies to the ooze, or, if in very severe
weather, perhaps to some floating ice, where he devours his victim. If the silly
birds would fly, they would be safe enough, for I am quite sure the Eagle cannot
catch a bird on the wing. The Great Black-backed Gull assails the Coots in
precisely the same way as the Eagle. A gunner once told me that he fired into a
flock of Coots, when a Great Gull was hovering over them, and bagged sixty-
three. I used to try all manner of schemes to shoot an Eagle, but I never suc-
ceeded, I was once within ten yards of one when I had not got a gun.
They were sometimes shot by the fowders on the river and the gamekeepers
in the woods."
During Dec, 1879, " one was seen on several occasions on the marshes
opposite Manningtree." It was repeatedly shot at, but escaped (Chelmsfora
Chronicle, Dec. 19). A bird, presumably of this species, was seen in Takeley Forest
about 1880, by Mr. John Sheldrake, who still lives there. It was not obtained.
Mr. Smoothy informs me that there is one at Hylands, shot there some years
ago, and that one winter, about 1883, one frequented his meadows at Danbury for
nearly six months. During Nov. and Dec, 1887, one was frequently seen round
Wyvenhoe, but the many attempts to shoot it were unsuccessful. In Dec, 1868,
one was frequently seen and shot at round Wyvenhoe and Alresford (50. ii. 20 &
Chelmsford Chronicle, Dec 30, '87). It was subsequently trapped at Thornham,
Suffolk (29. Jan. 2, 1869 & 34. 1558.) Yarrell says (14. i. 16) it has been shot
in Epping Forest.
Goshawk : Astur palumbarius.
A rare straggler to Britain.
Mr. Clarke notes (24) the occurrence of a female at the Aviary, Audley End,
in 1822 ; but, as it had a jess on one leg, it was certainly an escaped individual.
It is still in the Audley End Collection. Hoy records (12. viii. 53 & 29. Oct. 12,
1867) an adult male trapped by a gamekeeper upon the estate of Sir Joshua
Rowley, Bart., of Stoke Nayland, which is just across the Stour, on March 16th,
1833. This specimen is probably one of those still in his Collection. Mr. Hope
informs me of one " shot by Mr. Lescher's keeper whilst hunting a French Part-
ridge." Mr. Lescher does not know the present owner of this specimen.
Sparrowhawk: Accipiter nisus.
A fairly-common resident, but decreasing through incessant per-
secution.
Edward Doubleday records it (15) as "common" at Epping in 1835. In