. The birds of Essex: a contribution to the natural history of the country. Birds. FRINGILLIDM—CROSSBILL. 123. and the end of winter, though it has bred in Essex on more than one occasion. In some years it appears in considerable abundance. Thus, in 1835- 36, it was abundant round Saffron Wal- den, and in 1838-39 it abounded at Epping, but only limited numbers have been since observed. It certainly bred at Epping at the time named, if not at Saffron Walden, but Doubleday's re- cord, though noticed by More {t^t^. 131), Harting(38. 29),and Newman {Alontagii's Dictionary, p. 37), has been overloo
. The birds of Essex: a contribution to the natural history of the country. Birds. FRINGILLIDM—CROSSBILL. 123. and the end of winter, though it has bred in Essex on more than one occasion. In some years it appears in considerable abundance. Thus, in 1835- 36, it was abundant round Saffron Wal- den, and in 1838-39 it abounded at Epping, but only limited numbers have been since observed. It certainly bred at Epping at the time named, if not at Saffron Walden, but Doubleday's re- cord, though noticed by More {t^t^. 131), Harting(38. 29),and Newman {Alontagii's Dictionary, p. 37), has been overlooked by Yarrell, Seebohm and other writers. Of late years, the bird has been singularly rare, though a few have been observed from time to time. Yarrell's account of this species (14. ii. 15) was largely compiled from information supplied by Messrs. Clarke and Doubleday, and his figure was drawn from specimens shot at Saffron Walden by Mr. Clarke and still in his possession there, where he has often shown them to me. Doubleday also lent Yarrell about a dozen specimens for the same purpose (14. ii. 26). Mr. Hoy, writing at Stoke Nay land, which, though actually in Suffolk, adjoins Essex, says (18. i. 117) : " The Common Crossbill was rather numerous in some localities in this dis- trict during the last year [1836]. I first observed them about the 20th of July, 183;, and in the month of August we had a large flock in some fir-plantations in this neighbourhood.* * » They remained with us through the autumn and winter months. I did not observe any after March, but in the beginning of the month of June following a flock of fifteen or twenty were noticed in the same planta- COiMMON CROSSBILL, Mr. Joseph Clarke writes (18. i. 164) : " During the latter end of the month of June, 1835, a flight of these singular birds was observed in and about the plantations at Saffron Walden and the ad- joining villages, several of which were procured during that and the following months i
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