*
     * <p>This method does not decrement count for the removed entry, but does decrement count for
     * all partially collected entries which are skipped. As such callers which are modifying count
     * must re-read it after calling removeFromChain.
     *
     * @param first the first entry of the table
     * @param entry the entry being removed from the table
     * @return the new first entry for the table
     */