254 THE BIRDS OF ESSEX.
from Brightlingsea, where Dr. Bree says (32a) one was shot on the marshes in
the autumn of 1863. Mr. Kerry has informed me of two which he has observed
near Harwich, one in Landermere Creek, in September, 1888, the other several
years since on the Essex side of the River Stour. At the Marsh House, Tilling-
ham, Mr. Robert Page has a specimen taken in his decoy there. Mr. Page tells
me that others have been taken there. Dr. Bree says that the only one he ever
saw in his neighbourhood was shot on the St. Osyth Marshes late in Aug., 1863
(29. Sept. 5). Mr. Kerry saw three on Handford Water in 1889, and shot a
female in Suffolk on Sept. 4th (40. xiii. 454). About the middle of October,
1889, Dr. Salter shot at Tollesbury a fine specimen which was preserved by
Mr. Pettitt.
Greenshank : Totanus canescens.
A somewhat uncommon passing migrant in spring and autumn.
Albin figures a specimen which he says (3. ii. 63) " was shot by Sir Robert
Abdy on the sandy bank of a river in Essex, and was not much used to the sight
of men, it letting him come within ten yards of it before he fired at it." In the
Saffron Walden Museum is a specimen from Epping, presented, nearly fifty
years ago, by Henry Doubleday, who says (10) that in 1832 he saw one in a
Collection at Colchester, obtained on the adjacent coast, and that he ob-
served two at Walton in the same year. The Rev. J. C. Atkinson writes (36.
125): "I used to meet with it occasionally in the early autumn on the Essex
Saltings, and remember thinking 1 had got a prize the first time I shot one, and
noticed its slightly upturned bill." One was "shot on the Mundon Marshes [in]
1857" (Smith—31. S3). Mr: A. H. Smee shot an adult at Leigh, on Sept. 18th,
1869 (34. 1921), and saw two more there on Sept. 17, 1870 (34. 238;). I shot a
fine male (?) at Stony Point, Walton, on Sept. 7th, 1888. Round Harwich " some
are seen and shot every autumn. It was fairly common in the autumn of 1889.
They usually go in small parties of three to five" (Kerry). In the Shooting
Tinus (Oct. 6th, 1888) two Essex specimens are mentioned, one shot during
the previous Aug., the other at Stanford-le-Hope in the following month. Mr.
J. F. T. Wiseman of Paglesham writes : " They visit us nearly every year. My
son shot three at one shot last season." Dr. Bree says (32a) : "Two young
birds were shot at Fingringhoe, Sept. 9th, 1867, and sent to me by Mr. Symmons.
They were ne stlings of the year, showing that the old ones bred most probably in
the neighbouring marshes." I hardly think this probable, however.
Red-breasted Snipe: Macrorhamphus griscus.
A rare straggler to Britain from North America, where it is com-
mon. There is no absolutely conclusive evidence of its having
ever occurred in Essex, but the following note seems to justify its
appearance here.
Mr. Hope writes: " I saw a bird on the opposite side of Harwich Harbour
on April 15th, 1882, which I feel certain was a Red-breasted Snipe. I walked
within five yards of it, and it then flew away. The bill looked slightly curved,
which made me think it was a Curlew Sandpiper at first."
Black-tailed Godwit: Limosa aegocephala.
A visitor to our coast when on migration in spring and autumn.
It formerly bred with us, but has long ceased to do so.