2 THE MAMMALS, REPTILES, AND FISHES OF ESSEX. 



tide. The sea surrounding the Essex coast is 

 everywhere shallow, with- r a muddy or sandy bottom, 

 not a particle of hard 'rock being exposed in any single 

 part. The conditions of the sea-board, therefore, 

 while being most favourable for certain genera of fish, 

 are entirely unsuited to others. The rock-loving 

 species, for instance, are either very rare or totally 

 absent. The same may be said of the fish that live 

 in deep water. 



Inland, Essex consists of an elevated table-land, 

 fairly timbered, and well cultivated in all parts. With 

 the exception of the Waltham Forest district, the 

 county is now without any extensive woods or large 

 wastes, although these existed in former times. Large 

 sheets of inland waters are also absent ; and, owing 

 to the level formation of the surface, all the rivers 

 have a slow current. Although the valleys are at 

 times particularly subject to floods, yet the valley-soil 

 is not boggy, the land being firm up to the very 

 edges of the streams. 



The climate of Essex is dry, the average rainfall 

 being lower than in any other English county. 



MAMMALS. 



The highly-cultivated condition of the county 

 has been unfavourable to the continued existence of 

 several of our larger Mammals, although the Epping 



