THE HISTORY OF ESSEX HERONRIES. 255
serious diminution of the birds. It was claimed that prior
to this there must have been over one hundred nests. A rookery
was founded and the Rooks are reputed to have taken large num-
bers of the Herons' eggs. This fact, the persecution by the
tenant of the farm, who used to shoot the Herons at breeding
time and a second fall of timber, drove the Herons away. In
1870 there were about thirty nests, which had been the average
number for several years; in 1871 there were fifteen to eighteen
nests, but none in 1872. The site, however, was recolonized in
1892, that is, after an interval of twenty-one years, four or five
young being hatched out in June of that year. The nest was
built in an oak tree. In 1893 five pairs constructed nests, four
in one tall old bird-cherry and the fifth in a tall oak. Some
twenty young were hatched. The site, however, was again
deserted. There was a heronry in Bower Hall Grove, Mersea
Island, until about 1850 when the trees were stubbed. It is
stated that there were usually from twelve to fifteen nests and
occasionally twenty. Bradwell-on-Sea had a heronry till about
1865. It was at first in Heron Grove, but when the timber was
felled the birds nested in Bell-ropes Grove. Both of these
groves are in the grounds of Bradwell Hall. E. A. Fitch, to whom
we are indebted for much information relating to the heronries
of the County, writing in 1887, stated that there was a disused
heronry at Walton Hall, Mucking. It was situated on the edge
of the marshes, south of the railway leading from Stanford-
le-Hope to Tilbury, about half-a-mile from the Thames, the
trees being oak and ash with a few elms. No evidence has
been adduced to show when this colony existed. In 1893 five
nests were constructed in Tyle Grove, Latchingdon, and the
number gradually increased until 1897, when there were thirteen
nests, the occupants of which were successfully hatched off.
The locality was deserted in 1898.
In addition to these heronries the following sites, which in
most instances sheltered single nests, have been occupied: 1880
(about) Mundon Furze, and two other nests not far off; 1882
(about) Barton Hall Wood, Great Stambridge. Recorded in
1888 as having been occupied at some time or other: Stony
Piece, Lawling Hall, Latchingdon ; the Nursery, Bradwell Glebe ;
the Old Farm (Dunmow Wick), Burnham; Steeple; Scots Grove,
opposite Guisnes Court gate, Tollesbury; The Great Wood,