BIRDS 237. Greenshank. Tetanus canescens (Gmelin). Not uncommon as a passing migrant in spring and autumn. 238. Red - breasted Snipe. Afacrorhamphus griseus (Gmelin). A rare straggler. One is said to have been seen near Harwich in April 1882 (Birds of Essex, p. 254). 239. Bar-tailed Godwit. Limosa lapponica (Linn.). Locally, Prine or Preen. Fairly common on the coast when on migration. 240. Black - tailed Godwit. Limosa belgica (Gmelin). As the foregoing, but less common. 241. Curlew. Numenius arquata (Linn.). Very common on the coast from early autumn to late spring. A few non-breeding birds remain throughout the summer. Occa- sionally seen inland when migrating. 242. Whimbrel. Numeniui phteopus (Linn.). Locally, Titterell. Common on our coast during autumn, winter and spring. 243. Black Tern. Hydrochelidon nigra (Linn.). Now only an uncommon visitor when on migration, but formerly a regular summer visitor, breeding in the county. Individuals still occur occasionally however in the county during spring and summer. For instance, a pair was shot at Paglesham in the middle of May 1 890, and another pair seen at Colne Point about the same time. 244. Sandwich Tern. Sterna cantiaca, Gmelin. Now only a scarce passing migrant, but formerly a regular summer visitor, breeding on our coast. A few pairs continued to nest within the last twenty years, but they do so no longer. 245. Roseate Tern. Sterna dougalli, Montagu. A rare summer visitor. 246. Common Tern. Sterna fluviatllts, Nau- mann. Locally, Sea-Swallow. Formerly a fairly common summer visitor, nesting regularly in the county. Now it is scarce and nests with us no longer. 247. Arctic Tern. Sterna macrura, Naumann. An uncommon passing migrant in spring and autumn. 248. Little Tern. Sterna minuta, Linn. Locally, Little Sea-Swallow. Formerly a fairly common summer migrant, breeding at various suitable spots round our coast. A couple of small colonies at most now exist. 249. Sooty Tern. Sterna fuliginosa, Gmelin. A very rare straggler. One is recorded to have been killed near Colchester in the winter of 1880-1 (Field, April 23, 1881). 250. Lesser Sooty Tern. Sterna antrstheta (Scopoli). Another very rare straggler. The only specimen known to have occurred in Britain was obtained on one of the lightships at the Nore in September 1875 (Zoologist, 1877, p. 213). 251. Sabine's Gull. Xema sabinii (J. Sabine). A very rare straggler. One was shot on the Thames in September 1862 (Harting : Birds of Middlesex, p. 252). 252. Little Gull. Larus minutus, Pallas. An uncommon winter visitor. Most of the individuals which occur are immature. 253. Gull. ridibundus, Black-headed Linn. Locally, Peewit Gull (formerly) or Cob. A resident, though in much smaller num- bers than formerly. There are on our coast (as already stated) at least three islands which have derived the name of ' Pewit Island,' and several which have derived the name of 'Cob Island,' from the former breeding of this gull upon them. It is now the only species of gull which breeds in the county. It has at present only one or two comparatively small breeding colonies among the marshes and saltings on our coast in place of the many large colonies it had formerly. There appears to be no record of it having ever bred inland in Essex. Mediterranean Black - headed Gull. Larus melanocephalus, Natterer. A very rare straggler. One was shot near Barking Creek in January 1866 (Seebohm : British Birds, iii. 315). 255. Common Gull. Larus canus, Linn. A common winter visitor. A record that it formerly bred on our coast seems question- able (see Birds of Essex, p. 263). 256. Herring-Gull. Larus argentatus, Gmelin. Locally, Great Cob. A common winter visitor, especially on or near the coast. 254. 251
