94 EPPING POOREST. 



was if I had not been in the company of a well-known 

 naturalist. A young bird of this species was captured 

 on the borders of the Lower Forest. 



Golden Plover. Not uncommon in winter. A flock of 

 more than a hundred frequented Wanstead Park and 

 the fields adjoining in company with lapwings and 

 fieldfares in March 1883. Flocks also frequent Thorn- 

 wood Common. Many of the male birds showed much 

 black about the neck and breast. 



Gray Plover. Has been found by the Roding in late 

 autumn. It is generally considered a strictly maritime 

 bird, and therefore its occurrence in the Forest is re- 

 markable. One procured by the late Mr. Doubleday 

 of Epping is preserved in the British Museum. 



LAPWINGS. 



Lapwing. Frequently seen in flocks about the fields near 

 Wanstead Park and elsewhere. Ten years ago (1874) they 

 used to breed on Fairmead and near the Wake Arms. I 

 have only observed one pair this year, but there are 

 some fields just outside the limits of the Forest to which 

 they still resort in spring. 



Landrail or Corncrake. A summer visitor, nesting and 

 remaining till the middle of September. 



Water-rail. Not so rare as is sometimes supposed. Owing 

 to their silence and habit of creeping along the sides of 

 brooks, and rarely taking to the water, they are not 

 often seen ; but they are sometimes very noisy in the 

 breeding season. 



Heron. These birds come to the heronry in Wanstead Park 



