BIRDS a return of certain species which have ceased to breed with us, as the common and Sandwich terns. These provisions, though somewhat com- plicated, are judicious and are working satisfactorily. The present writer's work, the Birds of Essex (1890), may be consulted with advantage for fuller information as to occurrences, etc., of earlier date than the year of its publication. A supplement to this work is now in preparation, and will appear hereafter in the Essex Naturalist. NOTE. I have used, throughout the following list, the nomenclature employed in Mr. Howard Saunders' admirable List of British Birdi (1899). This I have done, by the Editor's wish, in order to secure uniformity with other lists in this series ; but I am permitted to state that I am unable to approve the treatment, in that list, of certain forms which show regional divergence from recognized type*. M.C. 1. Missel-Thrush. Turdus viscivorus, Linn. A fairly common resident in all districts. 2. Song-Thrush. Turdus musicus, Linn. A very abundant resident. 3. Redwing. Turdus iliacus, Linn. A common winter visitor, especially abun- dant during severe weather. 4. Fieldfare. Turdus pliant, Linn. As the last species. It usually arrives late in September, and remains till the beginning or middle of May, but has been recorded as early as September 6 and as late as the end of May (Birds of Essex, p. 73). 5. White's Thrush. Turdus varius, Pallas. A rare and occasional straggler. The only example known to have been obtained in the county was shot, in January 1894, in Lang- ley High Wood. It now belongs to Mr. W. H. Rolfe of Clavering, who has been good enough to submit it to me for identifi- cation. 6. Blackbird. Turdus merula, Linn. A very abundant resident, but varies greatly in numbers from time to time. 7. Ring-Ouzel. Turdus torquatus, Linn. An uncommon spring and autumn migrant, seen usually in April and October. A pair bred at Wickham Bishops in 1879 (Zoologist, 1879, p. 267). 8. Wheatear. Saxicola cenanthe (Linn.). A summer visitor, though local, breeding only round the coast and among the chalky uplands in the north-western corner of the county. Known elsewhere as a fairly com- mon passing migrant in spring and autumn. 9. Whinchat. Pratincola rubetra (Linn.). A regular summer visitor, fairly common on furze-covered commons and similar open spaces. 10. Stonechat. Pratincola rubicola (Linn.). An uncommon resident, though partially migratory. It breeds on open commons where furze abounds, but varies unaccount- ably in number from time to time. 1 1 . Redstart. Ruticilla phcenicurus (Linn.). A . regular summer visitor, rather un- common, though locally abundant. 12. Black Redstart. Ruticilla titys (Scopoli). A rare autumn and winter visitor, chiefly to the coast. 13. Red-spotted Bluethroat. Cyanecula sue- cica (Linn.). A rare straggler. Reported to have occurred once near Harwich (Birds of Essex, p. 80). 14. Robin or Redbreast. Erithacus rubecula (Linn.). A very abundant and familiar resident. 15. Nightingale. Daulias luscinia (Linn.). A common summer visitor. 1 6. Whitethroat. Sylvia cinerea (Bechstein). An abundant summer visitor. It has occurred once in winter. Sy/vi ta curruca 17. Lesser Whitethroat. (Linn.). A fairly common summer visitor. One was shot near Colchester on December 6, 1892. 1 8. Blackcap. Sylvia atricapilla (Linn.). As the last-named. A few occasionally winter with us. 237
