. The birds of Essex: a contribution to the natural history of the country. Birds. 122 THE BIRDS OF ESSEX. and looking np he beheld an incredible number of small birds flying abreast, in a line, as far as the eye could distinguish them and three or four yards deep. Their direction was towards the south-east, the wind favouring them : their height only a few yards from the ground. The flock was supposed to consist principally of Chaffinches, Linnets, Twites and Bramblings. None of the two latter species were seen in the neighbourhood after that time, and there is on these shores in the winter s
. The birds of Essex: a contribution to the natural history of the country. Birds. 122 THE BIRDS OF ESSEX. and looking np he beheld an incredible number of small birds flying abreast, in a line, as far as the eye could distinguish them and three or four yards deep. Their direction was towards the south-east, the wind favouring them : their height only a few yards from the ground. The flock was supposed to consist principally of Chaffinches, Linnets, Twites and Bramblings. None of the two latter species were seen in the neighbourhood after that time, and there is on these shores in the winter season an immense quantity of Linnets—more than can be bred in the ; Round Harwich, it is " very common in winter '' (Kerry). Mr. Smee says (34. 2605) that, although in " some winters they rise from the saltings in tens of thousands," they were "scarce" in the winter of 1870-71. Edward Doubleday includes it (15) in his list of birds which have occurred in the vicinity of Epping, and English calls it (43. i. 24) an " occasional visitor," while King says (20) that it "frequently appears in small flocks in the winter" in the neighbourhood of Sudbury, but it is not frequent in the inland parts of the county, though Mr. Travis has two alive, caught close to the town, in Oct., 1888. At Danbury, Mr. Smoothy says it is common in the winter, and is taken by bird-catchers with Linnets. Bullfinch : Fyrrlnila europcBa, A fairly-common resident throughout the county, though most often seen during winter, when it is often very destructive to the buds of fruit-trees. I believe it has be- come commoner of late years. Mr. Clarke des- cribes it (24) as " very common " round Saffron Wal- den. He mentions " a very singular one—half one, and half the other, ; It is " frequent " in and around Epping Forest( Buxton—47. 88). King speaks of it (20) as "com- mon " at Sudbury, and Mr. Grubb sa
Size: 1689px × 1479px
Photo credit: © Library Book Collection / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectbirds, bookyear1890
