126 NOTES — ORIGINAL AND SELECTED. 



]\Ir. Read then proceeded to describe a plan which would in 

 some measure tend to avert the dangers to which he had called 

 attention. He proposed that the active co-operation of the 

 various local societies should be secured, each to make a 

 survey of its own county, and to record on a large-scale 

 •ordnance map, every tumulus or earthwork within that county 

 or area : — 



" At the same time a register of the sites, witli numbers referring to the 

 map, should be kept, and in this register should be noted, the names of the 

 •owner and tenant of the property, as M'ell as any details which would be of use 

 in exploring the tumuli. I am well aware that a survey of this kind has been 

 begun by the Society of Antiquaries of London, and is still in progress ; but 

 this is of a fiir more comprehensive character, and is, moreover, primarily 

 intended for publication. The more limited survey I now advocate M'ould in 

 no way interfere with it, but, on the contrary, M'ould provide material for the 

 other larger scheme. Once the Local Society is in possession of the necessary 

 information just referred to, it would be the duty of its executive to exercise a 

 beneficent control over any operations affecting the tumuli, and it may safely 

 be said that such control could in no way be brought to bear so easily and 

 •efiectively as through a Local Society." 



NOTES-ORIGINAL AND SELECTED. 



ZOOLOGY. 



MAMMALIA. 



New Forest Life in Winter. — There is an article with 

 foregoing title in the Spectatov of January 3rd, 1903. The writer 

 speaks of the New Forest as being " singularly devoid of life," 

 and notes especially the scarcity of birds and small quadrupeds 

 there in winter ; though foxes are numerous, rabbits are 

 scarce. He remarks that Epping Forest swarms with rabbits, 

 and comparing the two forest areas, says: — 



" Indeed there is more wild life, including rabbits, badgers, jays, pigeons, and 

 Avild duck of various kinds, in the small area of Epping Forest and Wanstead 

 I'onds, a few miles from London, than in double that space of the average New 

 Forest area. The writer, for curiosity, tried many hundreds of acres in different 

 parts with an * all round ' setter, used to ground game, both woodland and heath, 

 -and except near two small warrens, found only three rabbits and three pheasants 

 in as many long walks. The only quadruped at all common is not conspicuous. 

 It is the mole. There must be scjuirrels, for the ground in many of the 

 plantations is strewn with the cores of pine-cones they have eaten ; but even the 

 squirrels do not show." 



