FALCONIDAE—FALCONS. 177
by-Nayland in 1835 (29. Sept. 28. 1867). In Rochford Hundred, about 1832,
Mr. Parsons says (11) it was seen "On the coast and marshes very rarely."
Henry Doubleday mentions (10) having seen in 1832 a specimen in a Collection at
Colchester, obtained in that neighbourhood, Newman records one (23. 2764) shot
near Colchester about the middle of Jan., 1850. About Oct. 1st, 1880, one (now
in Mr. Hope's Collection) was shot at " The Basin," at Maldon by a young man
named Arthur Clarke, who killed it whilst sitting upon a post (Chelmsford
Chronicle, Oct. 8). At Cooper's, the bird staffer's, in 1881, Mr. Harting saw one
that had been shot, flying over the Lea in Hackney Marshes during the autumn
(29. Oct. 8). Mr. E. A, Fitch writes on January 7th, 1887 (50. i. 45) :—
" During the last fortnight a large Eagle has several times been seen haunting
the Upper Island (Northey) in the Blackwater. * * * About [half] a dozen
years ago Clark shot an Osprey in this same locality, and two or three gunners
who saw that and our present visitor suppose them to be the same species."
It may, however, have been a Rough-legged Buzzard. Mr. Hance of Maldon
has a fine pair (50. ii. 242), which I have seen, shot on the river by Mr. R.
Bygrave some years ago. Others, Mr. Fitch tells me, have also been met
with there. One was taken on the Tollesbury Marshes during April, 1889, and
was preserved by Pettitt for Dr. Salter (Laver—50. iii. 88).
Red-footed Falcon : Tinnunculus vespertinus.
A rare and occasional visitor to England. It has only once been
met with in Essex, so far as I know.
Dr. Bree records (29. June 7 ; & 34. 3615 & 3688) that a female was shot at
Alresford, by one Gilders, head-keeper to Col. Hawkins, on May 31st, 1873,
after severe gales, and was added to his Collection. Gilders believed that he had.
shot another the previous year, but he was so close to it, and injured it so badly,
that it was not preserved.
Kestrel: Tinnunculus Glandarius. Locally, " Hoverer."
A fairly common resident, though partially migratory, and
rapidly decreasing on account of the senseless persecution it has
to undergo.