. The birds of Essex: a contribution to the natural history of the country. Birds. 110 THE BIRDS OF resulting increase in the number of Martins was quite extraordinary. ' Commencing with the year 1870, he had in successive years the following number of nests on his house :—7, 20, 45, 51, 68, 81, 100 and no. After this the number remained station- ary at about 130, that being, apparently, the greatest number that could obtain subsistence. Col. Russell's evidence as to the injurious nature of Sparrows, is not less interesting, but is out of place here. Henry Doubleday saw thirty or forty
. The birds of Essex: a contribution to the natural history of the country. Birds. 110 THE BIRDS OF resulting increase in the number of Martins was quite extraordinary. ' Commencing with the year 1870, he had in successive years the following number of nests on his house :—7, 20, 45, 51, 68, 81, 100 and no. After this the number remained station- ary at about 130, that being, apparently, the greatest number that could obtain subsistence. Col. Russell's evidence as to the injurious nature of Sparrows, is not less interesting, but is out of place here. Henry Doubleday saw thirty or forty flying together at Fpping on October 15th, i865 (34. 523). Mr. Laver records (29. Nov. 11) having observed a party of ten hawking over Col- MARTiN, Yi. Chester on the 5th of November, 1882. They eventually disappeared to the westward. On Nov. 22nd, 1888, two were observed for fully an hour at Woodham Walter (50. ii. 270). Mr. Philip Papillon saw a specimen at Colchester on Dec. 23rd, 1869 (29. Jan. 3rd, 1870). At Harwich, Mr. Kerry says " it decreases in numbers every ; I am inclined to think that the same remark applies to the entire county. Sand-Martin : Cottle riparia. A common summer visitor wherever there are sandy river- or pit-banks suited to its nesting habits. It usually appears about the end of March and disappears again during September, although in 1865, Lieut. Legge saw a pair near Shoebury on November i8th (34. 92), and Mr. Hope mentions having observed them in Essex in Christmas week—a very remarkable date. Its nesting-colonies are found throughout the county wherever there are suitable sandy banks. Edward Doubleday says (i;) it occurs at Epping, but does not breed there, The Rev. J. C. Atkinson says (36. loi) : "A ballast-pit at Fingringhoe, in Essex, is occupied by the most numerous colony I am acquainted ; They have oc- casionally been known to nest in walls. Dr. Laver, for instance, saw several pairs carrying nesting-materi
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