A HISTORY OF ESSEX nest in another tree, but had afterwards de- parted and had probably nested, or attempted to nest, somewhere on the adjacent mainland. This survival of the raven as a breeding species until so recent a period is of much interest, for at the date in question it had long ceased to breed in any other county in the east of England. Mr. Fitch saw, on the shore at Fambridge, as lately as Sep- tember 1901, a bird which may possibly have bred in the vicinity. 93. Carrion-Crow. Corvus corone, Linn. A resident, though uncommon, local, and decreasing in numbers through persecution, except in the south-western portion of the county, where it seems to be increasing, probably because of the large amount of refuse it finds among the London manure now used so largely in that district. It is now most abundant among the poorly-cultivated lands in Dengie Hundred and elsewhere round our coast. 94. Grey or Hooded Crow. Corvus comix, Linn. A winter visitor, common enough as a rule on and near the coast : much scarcer inland. It is reported (see Birds of Essex, p. 135) to have bred formerly on the coast in Dengie Hundred. 95. Rook. Corvus frugilegus, Linn. An abundant resident. In its nesting habits it appears to be very erratic. Often a few pairs will nest in the late autumn or winter if the weather be mild : at other times old and well established rookeries are suddenly deserted in the middle of the breeding season without apparent reason : sometimes too a single pair or several will establish a new rookery which is often quickly deserted. Dun-coloured, creamy, or white varieties are not uncommon. 96. Sky-Lark. Alauda arvensis, Linn. An abundant resident. In winter, espe- cially if the weather be severe, large flocks arrive from elsewhere. 97. Wood-Lark. Alauda arborea, Linn. Formerly, a resident, though scarce and local. Now it seems to have almost entirely dis- appeared from the county through some un- known cause. 98. Shore-Lark. Otocorys alpestris (Linn.). A scarce and irregular winter visitor to our coast. 99. Swift. Cypselus apus (Linn.). Locally, Shriek-Owl and Tommy-Devil. A common summer visitor, breeding wher- ever there are buildings which afford it suit- able nesting sites. It leaves early, about August 15 as a rule, but one was shot at Chesterford on October 27, 1877 an ex- tremely late occurrence. 100. Alpine Swift. Cypselus melba (Linn.). A rare straggler which has been reported, though on somewhat weak authority (see Birds of Essex, p. 145), as occurring in Essex on one or two occasions. 1 O I . Needle-Tailed Swift. Acanthyllis cauda- cuta (Latham). The first recorded example of this very rare straggler to Britain was shot at Great Horkes- ley on July 8, 1846 (Zoologist, 1846, p. 1492). O2. Nightjar. Caprimu/gus europxus, Linn. A regular summer visitor, common in dis- tricts where woods and bracken-covered commons abound, but elsewhere scarce and seen only when on migration. 103. Wryneck. lynx torquilla, Linn. A fairly common summer visitor. It ap- pears to vary considerably in its numbers from year to year. 104. Green Woodpecker. Gecinus viridis (Linn.). Locally, Whetile, Yaffle, etc. A fairly common resident in parks and wooded districts, but scarce in the more open parts : rapidly decreasing, it is to be feared, in the county, owing to frequent eviction from its breeding holes by the starling. 105. Great Spotted Woodpecker. Dendrocopus major (Linn.). A resident and widely distributed, but de- cidedly uncommon and seldom seen, 1 06. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Dendro- copus minor (Linn.). As the last-named. 107. Kingfisher. Alcedo ispida, Linn. A resident in all parts of the county but everywhere rather scarce and, I think, decreas- ing in numbers. A correspondent knew, how- ever, of six nests during 1901 within five miles of Maldon. With the additional legal protection now afforded, the bird may hold its own and even increase. 242
