THE PROTECTION OF WILD BIRDS IX ESSEX. II 



confused and confusing. We hope to live to see all wild birds 

 protected, but failing thit logical outcome of the idea of protection, 

 a step in the right direction would be made by scheduhng those 

 birds that are outside the pale of protection, not those tliat are 

 within it. This is the right principle, and if it were adopted, the 

 comprehension of and obedience to the law would be more 

 wide-spread, while the legal enforcement of the orders would be 

 greatly facilitated. 



In continuation of the reports on the birds of Epping 

 Forest and district given on former occasions (see E.N. vol. x., pp. 

 56-57, and pp. 276-7), Mr. Buxton has placed in our hands 

 some letters from keepers and others sent to him in March last, 

 which confirm the favourable impression of the effects of the 

 protection now afforded to the birds there imparted by previous 

 accounts. A few paragraphs from the letters may be quoted : — 



Haivks. — The observers do not distinguish the species, but speak in 

 general terms; they probably mean Kestrels. The keeper in Theydon 

 district says, " two couple nest every year in the oaks in Thames Valley." 

 Two other keepers in the Epping district report an increase ; at Bishops Hall 

 Estate the keeper reports a large increase ; at Waltham the report is " plenty 

 of hawks"; at Chiagford an obssrver says that he has seen a few hawks, 

 "about the same number that I used to see in old days." At Woodreddon 

 two were seen. Sparrow-hawks breed in Knighton and Gaunts Wood, 

 Theydon, and they have bssn noticed at Ilford and elsewhere. 



Oivls. — The opinion appears to be general that these are increasing. The 

 Theydon keeper writes, " I frequently see them in the large hollies in Epping 

 Thicks." From High Beach comes the report that they have "increased in 

 the neighbourhood of Fairmead High Woods, and on Mr. Baring's estate. 

 I have heard as many as four hooting at one time on two occasions. I saw a 

 pair of large White Owls on Aims-House Plain in the day time." 



Miis:pie. — There are but few notes of-, these. As Mr. Russell remarks, 

 they are rarely seen on the forest, but are occasionally noticed at Wanstead, 

 in Loughion Manor, at Bishops Hall, and more frequently at Warlies and 

 Monkhams, near Waltham. Mr. Colvin's keeper (Waltham), complains that 

 there are " too many Magpies " ! The keeper at Copped Hall reports having 

 seen four together in .April. At Loughton " we have two or three Magpies, 

 and I have not seen any [? previously] for soma years." Bishops Hall keeper 

 reports " Magpies very scarce here ; I saw two about fourteen days back." 



Pecivits. — Most o( ths letters report an incre.iss. The observant 

 Theydon keeper says that they appear more plentiful. " A large 

 quantity of them as well as the ' Golden I^lover ' were on the meadow 

 land between Theydon Bois and Epping all the early part of the winter." 

 From Epping comes the report, "Peewits are very plentiful this way"; 

 Bishops Hall, " Peewits are more numerous than formerly." At Loughton, 

 " Peewits are most abundant." 



