SCOLOPACIDAE—SNIPES.
241
Grey Phalarope : Phalaropus fulicarius.
An uncommon and irregular visitor when on migration in late
autumn or early winter.
Earthy records
(19. 114) that in
Sept., 1838, he re-
ceived two speci-
mens, " one shot
at Blackwater, the
other found in an
exhausted state in
the parish of
Rayne." One was
killed near Wood-
ham Mortimer in or
about the same year
(C. Walford—19.
47). Another was
killed on the Black-
water, on October
6th, 1866, at which
time many occurred
on the south coast
of England. Mr. grey phalaropes summer and winter, 1/4.
Stacey, of Dunmow,
has a specimen shot by a pond near there about the year 1870. One was shot in
Wanstead Park on Oct. 5th, 1875 (29. Oct. 9.) Mr. Kerry records one (34. 4827),
in full winter plumage, shot at Harwich on Nov. 24th, 1875, and says (40. vii. 119)
that on Nov. 3rd, 1882, one was shot and another seen swimming in the Harbour.
The Rev. M. C. H. Bird possesses a pair, shot on Canvey Island in 1877. Eng-
lish includes it (43. i. 24) as only an " occasional visitor " to Epping, probably on
the strength of one shot beside a brook at North Weald (47. 97). Mr. Hope says it
is " common in Essex in winter and autumn after heavy north-east gales. Some-
times it is seen in summer months, generally swimming inside the mouths of estu-
aries." One was killed by a stone from a catapult on Wanstead Flats on Nov.
21st, 1888 (29. Dec. 1 and 8). Dr. Salter has one shot from a launch at the
entrance to Salcot Creek after a heavy storm in 1881.
Woodcock : Scolopax rusticula.
A fairly-common winter visitor, much sought after by sportsmen.
Plentiful in some years, but scarce in others. A few remain to breed,
and nests in various parts of the county have from time to time,
though not very often, been reported.
Lord Braybrooke, writing to Yarrell (14. ii. 596), mentions one shot at Audley
End about 1793, which " weighed full sixteen ounces, and was much the largest-
looking bird, as well as the heaviest, I ever saw." Mr. Clarke speaks of it (24)
as "frequently killed in winter" round Saffron Walden. He records nests in
Peverell's Wood, Wimbish, in the years 1831-32 and 33. On one occasion, the
nest, when found, contained eggs, and on two occasions the young birds were
R