176 THE BIRDS OF ESSEX.
Merlin is merely a visitant [to Epping] in the autumn months, and that very
rarely. I only know of one having been killed here, and that a young female."
King says (20) that he only once met with it in the neighbourhood of Sudbury.
Mr Travis states (44. i. lxiii.) that in 1880 two were killed at Newport, and he
received one shot near Littlebury early in Dec, 1881. In Nov., 1887, one was shot
by a gamekeeper at Langford Park (41. ii. 33). Mr. Hope, who has two shot at
Stubbers, Romford, in 1887, says it is " not uncommon at Havering in the autumn."
It is " frequent" in autumn in the Colchester and Paglesham districts (Laver).
Mr. Kerry has one shot at Dovercourt by himself.
More, writing in 1865, says (33. 10): " From Essex, Dr, C. R. Bree writes
that the Merlin breeds in the marshes of the Rochford Hundred. Mr. Laver, his
informant, has brought up young birds from the nest " (37. i. 75). In reply to
my inquiry, Dr. Laver writes : " There can be no mistake about their breed-
ing, as stated in the Ibis. They bred on the Paglesham Marshes, as well as
on Foulnes?, in the rank grass beside the marsh ditches, but I have not heard
of a nest for years, as I now never visit that district." As to its breeding
in that district, Mr. J. F. T. Wiseman of Paglesham writes : " I do not doubt
it, but I cannot say that it does so from personal observation." The Rev. J. C.
Atkinson writes : " I know it used to breed a long while ago, but not commonly."
Osprey: Pandion haliaetus.
A rare winter visitor or passing migrant in spring and autumn,
It still breeds in a few localities in the Highlands.
Dale says (2. 396) :
" Whether this bird is
at any time to be seen
here [Harwich] I know
not; but, this being a
bird that frequents the
sea-coast, and having seen
the cases of two of them
which have been shot in
this county, the first at
Maldon, in the house of
one Mr. Robjent, killed
near that place, and the
other at the Horn [Inn]
in Braintree, but killed
at St. Osith, in Tendring
Hundred, I do not doubt
but sometimes they fre-
quent this place."
Mr. Joseph Clarke
notes (24) an Osprey
killed on the lake in
Debden Park, about the
year 1817, by William
Harrington, a game-
keeper. It had a carp
weighing three pounds
in its talons. Hoy re-
cords (12. v. 281) that a young individual in its first plumage was shot on Aug.
17th, 1831, in Stoke Nayland parish, which is in Suffolk, just beyond the Essex
border ; and in his Collection at Boyle's Court there are two shot by him at Stoke-