168 The Mammalia of Essex ; a Contribution towards a 



squirrel, and preys principally on birds, which it surprises 

 when roosting. It also differs in not giving out the disgusting 

 odour we usually associate with this family, and which has, 

 amongst our native members, its greatest development in 

 the polecat. Accounts of captures . of martens are very 

 unsatisfactory, as we cannot feel sure which of our two native 

 species (if species they are) is referred to ; but I think the 

 species under consideration is the one intended by Lubbock 

 in his ' Fauna of Norfolk,' first published in 1845. He says 

 " it still is occasionally found in Essex." 



Caenivora. Canid^. 



VuLPEs vulgaris. Commou Fox. — It is quite unnecessary 

 to give any specific account of this fortunately common 

 member of our fauna, as it is so well known by sight to 

 almost every one. I say " fortunately common," and may it 

 long remain so, being the object of a sport which does so 

 much to bring all classes together, encourages the breeding 

 of horses, trains our young men as fearless riders, and does 

 not make its votaries selfish and suspicious, as is the case in 

 shooting, fishing, and most other sports. As far as I know 

 the pursuit of the fox and its preservation are the causes of 

 no damage to anything except a little poultry and game ; but 

 the advantages are so manifest that we must be content to 

 give these in exchange. So long as there are woods in the 

 country, and the present condition of agriculture gives no 

 reason to suppose they will be destroyed, so long will there 

 be foxes, unless the game preserver takes to using strychnine, 

 and so destroys the sport of the many for a day or two's 

 grand battue diuing the year ; but I hope we may never see 

 this. Many anecdotes are related of the sagacity of this 

 animal, but I need not go into them, as the fox's cunning is 

 proverbial. 



Carnivora. Phocid^. 



Phoca vitulina. Common Seal. — This seal occurs sparingly 

 on all parts of the coast, but it is not seen every year, and in 

 fact the seals that have been taken on the Essex shores can 



