INTRODUCTION. IxV 



would carry us back to a somewliat early period. 

 Woods, in whose dense coverts the Wild-cat (Felix 

 catus) and the Martin^ (Maries foina) once ranged 

 in safety, or, still more recently, the Raven and Carrion 

 Crow, with the Buzzard (Buteo vulgaris) and Kite 

 (Milvus ictinus), amongst the larger Raptores, nested 

 undisturbed, and Hawks and Owls in plenty performed 

 their part in the great scheme of nature, as vermin- 

 killers, not vermin. Of such may be noted more 

 especially the great Foxley wood, described by Kent, 

 in 1813, as covering over three hundred acres, and 

 Hockering, Ashwelthorpe, Hethel, Brooke,t and others, 

 even now of considerable extent and for the most part 

 weU stocked with game, both feather and " felt." With 

 the great woods, also, as relicts of former times, we 

 have, even in this closely cultivated district, several 

 wide heaths and rough commons, lying chiefly to the 

 north and west of Norwich, and which, in some 

 localities, though not continuous, extend for several 

 miles in an almost direct line. 



On the stiffer soils, again, to the south and south- 

 west, we find a "green" country, with rich meadows 



* This species was still trapped, occasioually, in Brooke wood, 

 until near the close of the last century. 



t These older woods may be grouped together, as it were, in 

 different localities, lying as they now do in close proximity to each 

 other, whilst in former times, no doubt, they were still more closely 

 connected. Thus, in one group, we have the woods at Eainham 

 Elmham, Horningtoft. Foxley, Mileham, and Godwick ; in another, 

 those at Saham, Merton, Necton, and Bradenham. Hethel, Ket- 

 teringham, and Ashwelthorpe would form a third; and a still 

 larger group includes Brooke, Hedenham, Ditchingham, Kirby- 

 Cane, Shottesham, and Hempnall. In like manner, also, might 

 have been classed the woods at Edgefield, Plumstead, Holt, 

 Hempstead, Stody, and Himworth, together with Melton and 

 Swanton, before the chief portion were either "stubbed up" 

 altogether or re-planted. 



