ITS BIRDS. 



91 



Golden - Crested Wren. Common throughout the year, 

 especially in the Wanstead Park woods. 



Firecrested Wren. A bird of this species, taken by a bird- 

 catcher at Epping, 26th November 1878, is preserved 

 in the collection of British birds in the British ^luseum. 



Wheatear. A passing visitor in spring and autumn. 



Whinchat. A summer visitor, breeding in the furze bushes 

 in the open forest. 



Stonechat. Much more abundant than the last ; breeds on 

 the open forest ; a few remain throughout the year. 



Great Titmouse (oxeye). Common all the year. A noisy 

 pugnacious little bird, who resents, with angry chatter, 



GREAT TIT. 



intrusion into its thickets. They freely build in boxes 

 placed for the purpose against the trees in my garden. 

 I have more than once known the hen bird, when cover- 

 ing the young ones, to fly at my hand when I have opened 

 the lid. They appear to be very fond of the seeds of 

 the yew. " Oxeyes have built regularly for five-and- 

 twenty years in the hollow of an old cherry-tree on my 

 lawn, 3 feet from the ground. One season the usual 

 time had passed without their beginning operations, and 

 I found some stones had been dropped into the hole ; 

 these I removed, and the following day the nest was 

 begun and the brood was brought off in due course. " — 

 A.^L. 



