PREFACE. vii 



reproductions of some of the best wood-cuts in Bewick's 

 famous series. For the following exquisite little engravings, 

 I am indebted to the kindness of Mr. E, N. Buxton, in whose 

 work on Epping Forest they first appeared : — Great Tit (p. 93), 

 Long-tailed Tit (p. 92), Hawfinch (p. 114), Jay (p. 132), Green 

 Woodpecker (p. 148), Heron (2 cuts, pp. 180 and 183), Ring 

 Dove (p. 214), Pewits (p. 237) and Sparrowhawk (p. 169). 

 For the cut of the Little Ringed Plover (p. 236), I am in- 

 debted to Mr. Harting. A few have been specially drawn 

 and engraved by Mr. G. E. Lodge, and these I think will not 

 be severely criticised. 



I have to acknowledge my great indebtedness to many 

 friends who have most obligingly supplied me with much 

 useful and valuable information. Among these may be men- 

 tioned Messrs. G. P. Hope, of Upminster Hall ; F. Kerry, of 

 Harwich ; Dr. Henry Laver, F.L.S, of Colchester ; and Mr. 

 Walter R. Sackett, of Orsett. Each of these has supplied me 

 with a valuable list of the birds frequenting his particular dis- 

 trict, of which I have made extensive use, as will be seen in 

 the following pages. I am also under great obligations for 

 information to many other friends, including the Rev. J. C. 

 Atkinson, LL.D., Mrs. Bree, Major Ed. Taylor, Miss C. Fell 

 Smith, the Rev. H. A. Macpherson, the late Rev. Dr. Babing- 

 ton, the Rev. M. C. H. Bird, Messrs. G. H. Baxter, G. W. 

 Brewis, Joseph Clarke, F.S.A., Walter Crouch, Stanley 

 Edwards, Jonathan Grubb, J. H. Gurney, jun., F.L.S., &c., J. 

 F. Hills, Robert Page, James Round, M.P., Champion B. 

 Russell, Charles Smoothy, F. Spalding, Hy. Stephenson, Jas. 

 F. T, Wiseman, and many others. More especially am I 

 indebted to Mr. E. A. Fitch, of Maldon, President of the 

 Essex Field Club (who has rendered me constant and very 

 valuable assistance whilst passing the sheets through the 

 press), to Mr. Wm. Cole (to whom I am indebted for the 

 notice of the late Mr. English), to Mr. W. H. Dalton (who 

 has kindly assisted me with the index), to Mr. A. P. Wire 



