228 THE BIRDS OF ESSEX.
Order ALECTORIDES.
Family GRUIDAE.
Crane : Grus communis.
There are only two undoubted records of the occurrence in
Essex of this rare straggler to Britain, although there is every prob-
ability that it was fairly common on our marshy coasts several cen-
turies ago. One authority considers that this bird gave its name
to the parish of Cranham, near Romford—a somewhat doubtful
piece of etymology.
The Rev. W. Palin (More About Stifford, p. 89) derives the name of Cranham
from the Cranes, which, he says, were "common in those days in the then-un-
drained lowlands about Aveley." He mentions a house in the latter parish,
known in 1647 by the sign of the " Three Cranes." Canon Babington mentions
one (46. 157), on the authority of Mr. Hills, " said to have been seen flying over
Sudbury." A modern record of its occurrence in the county is that by Mr.
Henry Laver, who says (40. xiii. 34 & 50 ii. 271) that on Friday, Nov. 9th, 1888,
eight large birds were observed in a field on Elmstead Hall Farm, about four
miles east from Colchester. One of these being shot proved to be an immature
specimen, without the red mark on the head, and with the wing-feathers which
cover the tail not fully developed. It was secured by Mr. Laver, and after being
preserved by Mr. J. Pettitt, of Colchester, it was, by the former gentleman, most
generously presented to the Saffron Walden Museum, where it now is. The other
seven flew away. Curiously enough, rather less than a year later, the county was
again honoured by a visit from one of these birds. It was first observed by Mr.
Gervase F. Mathew, R.N., of Dovercourt, who recorded it as follows in the
Zoologist for November, 1889 (40. xiii. 435) :—
" While shooting with a party, on Sept. 26th, in the adjoining parish of Little
Oakley, I had the pleasure of seeing a fine specimen of the Common Crane. We
were sitting at lunch under a hedge, when, happening to look up, I noticed—as
I at first thought—a large Heron flying towards us. It was then about a mile
off. Presently I looked up again, and by that time it had come much nearer, and
to my astonishment I observed that the bird held its head and neck stretched out
in front of it, as Herons never do, and from its immense size there was no mis-
taking what it was. It still came gradually towards us, and appeared to be look-
ing for a place whereon to alight, for it flapped its great wings several times over
its back until they almo?t appeared to touch, and then glided on with outstretched
pinions. This it repeated several times, and then pitched in the next field, and
well in view from where we sat. It looked a grand bird as it stood upon the
grass with the bright sun shining upon it. Unfortunately it was a long way out
in the field, and out of shot from the hedge. However, I thought I would try and
stalk it, so crept down by the edge of the field we were in, until I reached a gap
near the bottom, which I crawled through into the next field, where I was well
out of sight of it. I then went on until I arrived nearly opposite to where I sup-