INTEODUCTION. 



On putting forth this little account o£ the ' Birds of Sussex,' 

 it may perhaps be ■well to give a general idea of the natural 

 features of the county, which measures about seventy-six 

 miles in length by some twenty-seven in breadth. It is 

 bounded on the north by Surrey and Kent ; on the south by 

 the English Channel, the coast line being about eighty-six 

 miles in extent; on, the east by Kent, and on the west by 

 Hants. The geological formation of Sussex may, speaking 

 generally, be divided into three principal portions through- 

 out its whole length : namely that of the Chalk, comprising 

 the South and Western Downs ; the Weald, consisting 

 chiefly of what is known as Wealden Clay ; and the Sand, 

 which forms a narrow band between the two. Besides these 

 there are comparatively small deposits of Bracklesham and 

 London clays, of which the most considerable extends about 

 ten miles south from Chichester to Selsey BiU, and about 

 twenty east and west from the boundaries of Hants to 

 within a few miles of Worthing, being, however, now and 

 then broken into by the Chalk. Again, about the courses of 

 the rivers, there are narrow alluvial deposits, becoming 

 wider towards their mouths, and at the eastern end of the 

 county are two large beds of alluvium, blown sand, and 

 shingle, forming the Levels of Pevensey, Rye, and Winchel- 

 sea. The ancient forest of Anderida is described by the 



