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BIRDS 108. Roller. Caractas garrulus, Linn. A very rare straggler. One shot at Great Chesterford in 1865 is now in the Saffron Walden Museum. 109. Bee-Eater. M 'traps apiaster, Linn. A very rare straggler. One was shot at Peering about June 21, 1854, and another has been seen near Wanstead (see Birds of Essex, p. 150). no. Hoopoe. I] pupa epops, Linn. A not uncommon though somewhat irregu- lar passing migrant, at least one example being met with almost every year. It is most often seen during the latter half of April or early in May ; but it sometimes occurs in autumn, usually during September. It has bred in some other of the southern counties, but no instance of its having done so in Essex has been recorded. Its frequent appearance in pairs in spring leaves no doubt, however, that it would do so occasionally if not so mercilessly shot. in. Cuckoo. Cucultu canorui, Linn. A common summer visitor. 112. White or Barn-Owl. Strix ftammea, Linn. A fairly common resident in most parts of the county. No British bird more richly deserves the protection of landowners, farmers, and game preservers. All such should strictly enjoin their gamekeepers and other servants on no account to molest it. Its food consists almost exclusively of rats, mice, voles and shrews, though occasionally small birds are eaten. The damage it does to game is in- considerable : its services to the farmer are immense. 113. Long-eared Owl. Asia otus (Linn.). A resident, though in very small numbers, except at Alresford, where it breeds freely (Laver). Better known as an uncommon winter visitor. 114. Short-eared Owl. A sit accipitrinus (Pallas). Locally, Woodcock Owl, Cabbage Owl, etc. A winter visitor, common in some years, especially those in which the short-tailed field vole (Microtus agrestis) is abnormally abundant, but usually uncommon. Of late years how- ever it has been known to breed on the Essex marshes on several occasions as at Little Oakley from 1884 to 1897 (Kerry), on Northey Island in 1896 (Fitch, Zoologist, 1896, p. 233), and at Bradwcll-on-Sca. 115. Tawny Owl. Syrnium aluco (Linn.). A resident, but local and not common, though fairly numerous in some of our more extensive woods, where, however, it is much persecuted by game-preservers. 1 1 6. Tengmalm's Owl. Nyctala tengmalmi (Gmelin). A rare and accidental straggler to Britain. One was killed at Poplar at the end of January, 1877 (Zoologist, 1877, p. 176). 117. Little Owl. Athene noctua (Scopoli). A rare and occasional visitor which has occurred several times in the county. All now met with must be regarded with sus- picion, as many have been turned out of late years. 1 1 8. Snowy Owl. Nyctea scandiaca (Linn.). A rare and occasional winter visitor which is said to have been seen in the county several times (see Birds of Essex, p. 159). 119. Scops-Owl. Scops giu (Scopoli). A rare and occasional visitor. Some five or six examples are recorded as having occur- red in the county. There is also some reason to think a pair may have bred more than once between the years 1886 and 1889 in the vicinity of Heydon, but the evidence is far from conclusive (see Essex Natura- list, iii. 17). 1 20. Eagle-Owl. Bubo ignavus, T. Forster. Said to have been seen in the county (sec Birds of Essex, p. 161). The individuals observed had perhaps escaped from confine- ment. 121. Egyptian Vulture. Neophron percnopterus (Linn.). An occasional straggler to Britain. On September 28, 1868, an immature individual was shot at Peldon (Zoologist, 1868, p. 1456). 1 22. Marsh - Harrier. Circus teruginosus (Linn.). Formerly a common resident, breeding in numbers, especially in the marshy districts near the coast : now only an occasional visi- tor though not very rare. 1 23. Hen-Harrier. Circus cyaneus (Linn.). As the preceding. 124. Montagu's Harrier. Circus cintraceus (Montagu). Also as above, but less often met with. 243