A HISTORY OF ESSEX 125. Buzzard. Buteo vulgaris, Leach. Locally, Puttock. Formerly a common resident, breeding in all parts of the county. In the Epping dis- trict it was practically exterminated by the year 1830, but at that time it still bred in the extensive woodlands in Rochfbrd Hundred and elsewhere. Fields in many parts of the county still known as ' Puttock's Lees ' attest its former prevalence. Now it is no more than a casual visitor, usually seen when passing on migration. 126. Rough-legged Buzzard. Buteo lagopus (Gmelin). An uncommon and irregular visitor, chiefly during autumn and winter. 127. Spotted Eagle. Aqulla maculata (Gme- lin). A very rare straggler to Britain. One was captured alive in a very exhausted state at Elmsteadon October 29, 1891 (see Zool. 1891, p. 470 and Essex Nat. v. 2 1 8), and another, also much exhausted, was shot five days later, on November 3, at Leigh (see Essex Nat. . 2 1 8, and Zool. 1892, p. 76). An eagle which was seen about Bardfield, Lindsell and Thaxted throughout the month of December following was probably of the same species. At least one other individual was shot and another seen about the same time in Suffolk, showing that the eastern counties must have been visited by something like a small flock of these birds blown out of their way probably by a severe gale which occurred just before they were seen. 128. Golden Eagle. Aqulla chrysa'etus (Linn.). An occasional winter visitor. 129. White-tailed Eagle. Haliaetus albidlla (Linn.). A winter visitor, seen not very uncom- monly on the coast, especially during severe weather. 130. Goshawk. Astur palumbarius (Linn.). A rare straggler which has been reported once or twice as occurring in the county, but under somewhat doubtful circumstances (see Birds of Essex, p. 168). 131. Sparrow- Hawk. Accipiter nisus (Linn.). A resident and still fairly common, though steadily decreasing through constant persecu- tion. 132. Kite. Milvus ictinus, Savigny. Locally, Crotch-tailed Puttock. Formerly a common resident. It bred in the county in some numbers up to about the year 1830, and has done so occasionally since then. A pair is said to have nested at Mer- sea about 1845, and I have seen a fine male said to have been shot at Sampford about 1870 in the middle of summer (see Birds of Essex, p. 170). As no Essex specimen has been reported for many years it may be re- garded as extinct in the county, though its occurrence as a casual visitor would not be surprising. 133. Honey-Buzzard. Perms apivorus(L,inn.). Formerly a not uncommon summer visitor. There is no record of its having bred in the county for many years, but it has not improb- ably done so, as individuals have occurred from time to time in the height of sum- mer. Now however it is with us not more than a passing migrant, usually seen during September when passing southward. 134. Gyr-Falcon. Fa lea gyrfalco (Linn.). A rare winter visitor. A falcon shot beside the lake in Hatfield Forest about nine years ago by the late forest ranger is, I believe, a male of this species (or race), and leading authorities who have examined it have held the same view, though others have pronounced it a large female peregrine. It is exceedingly dark in colour, the back being almost black and the breast darkly striped. Another gyr- falcon, shot near Coggeshall in 1855, but no longer in existence, may have belonged also to this or the nearly allied species (or race) known as the Greenland gyr-falcon {Falco candicans). 135. Peregrine Falcon. Falco peregrinus, Tunstall. Formerly no doubt resident in small num- bers, and a pair is said to have nested in a tree at Sampford in the summer of 1843 (see Birds of Essex, p. 173). Now however it is only a winter visitor, though un- doubtedly commoner than is usually supposed. 136. Hobby. Falco subbuteo, Linn. Once a fairly common summer visitor, breeding regularly in the county. It nested at Felstead in 1877, near Belhus Park in 1879, at Great Waltham about 1885, and near Bishops Stortford in 1887. Doubtless it has done so since, but no instance has come under my notice. Individuals still occur however from time to time. 137. Merlin. Falco <ssalon, Tunstall. Now no more than an uncommon autumnal or winter visitor ; but it is said to have bred formerly on the marshes near the coast in Rochford Hundred (see Birds of Essex, p. 176). 244
