196 ESSEX BIRD PROTECTION SOCIETY. 



birds to the whole year in such parishes as are within the- 

 MetropoHtan PoHce Area, and also protects the eggs of certain 

 species. In this part of the county the Bird Protection Society^ 

 do not employ any watcher, but confine themselves to doing 

 what they can to second and stimulate the zeal of the police, who- 

 are now generally active in enforcing the law. The President 

 of the Society, Mr. E. N. Buxton, to whose initiative is due the 

 reafforestation of Hainault, has also induced the owners of most,, 

 if not all, the estates adjoining the Forest, to extend their protec- 

 tion to certain species of birds, e.g., herons, ducks, kingfishers, 

 magpies, kestrels, and owls, with satisfactory results. Reports 

 from the owners of these estates and from the Forest keepers 

 are received by the Bird Protection Society, and from them it 

 would appear that owls, both barn and tawny, are certainly more 

 numerous than they used to be. Magpies, never common in this 

 district, breed regularly on one or two estates, but the number of 

 nests reported remains about constant. Kestrels would certainly 

 increase, but unfortunately, they often fall a victim to the 

 temptations put in their way by the artificial rearing o 

 pheasants, and so lose the good character they ought to enjoy 

 It is particularly satisfactory to learn that there appears to be a 

 decided increase in the number of goldfinches, a bird which has,, 

 it is to be feared, peculiar attractions for the birdcatcher. 



Beyond making the suggestion that goldfinches might, like 

 kingfishers, be protected thiroughout the county during the whole 

 year, it would appear that the protection afforded to our Essex 

 birds by the Order of 1901, is fairly adequate, and all that is 

 necessary is that the Order should be enforced. It may be 

 suggested, however, that the Order might be somewhat simplified,, 

 meanw^hile the Essex Bird Protection Society is probably wise 

 in confining itself to working on the lines of the Protection Order 

 and can claim some share in helping to make it effective. 

 Additional interest would be given to its annual reports if those 

 interested in ornithology in the County would send any notes of 

 interest in their district to me as secretary ; I am always glad to 

 receive and incorporate any such notes in the reports. (Address : 

 Loughion, Essex.) 



