ITS BIRDS.
97
Curlew. Seen several times and killed at Copped Hall.
Curlew Sandpiper. A specimen procured by the late Mr.
Doubleday of Epping was presented by him to the
British Museum.
Little Stint. Has once at least been procured near Epping.
The specimen referred to is in the British Museum.
Gray Phalarope. "I set up a fine example of this beautiful
bird, shot by the Rev. L. Cockerell at a brook, North
Weald."—J. L. E. Another specimen was killed some
years since at Wanstead Park.
Coot. Breeds in Wanstead Park, where they are numerous,
and have become remarkably tame since the public have
been admitted.
Moorhen. Most abundant in Wanstead Park and most of
the Forest ponds.
Spotted Crake. Occasionally met with in the soft low-lying
parts of the Forest, such as would be attractive to snipe.
One may be seen preserved at the house of the head
keeper, Broad Strood Lodge.
Great-crested Grebe. "I observed a female bird on the
Wanstead basin for several days in the spring of 1883."—
A. L.
Red-necked Grebe. " In February 1877 one of these birds
remained for almost a week on the basin in Wanstead
Park. I watched it repeatedly with a good telescope.
It was in fine plumage."—A. L.
Little Grebe or Dabchick. A great traveller notwithstand-
ing his short wings. Frequently seen in the spring
in the lower and open ponds in Wanstead Park, but is
said not to remain to breed. I observed a pair on my
own pond for the first time in the spring of 1884, and
I believe them to have had a nest.
Red-throated Diver. "In January 1877 I watched one
of these rare visitors on the Wanstead basin. My
telescope showed the speckling on the back quite
distinctly ; it was therefore probably a young bird."—
A. L.
Wild Duck. Breeds annually in several parts of the Forest.
A small party of them frequented Connaught Water
throughout the winters of 1883-84, and, being left alone,
became very tame.
Widgeon. May be seen occasionally in winter.
Teal. Several frequented the Wanstead Park waters in the
spring of 1883, and in the following spring I saw a single
bird on Connaught Water. We hope that it will take
to breeding there.
Scaup. A flock of seven or eight remained on the Wanstead