UNFREQUENTED FIELD-PATHS. 45 
subscriptions of the public. Many of the cases which come 
before them they are able to settle in an amicable manner, but 
when a contest occurs, and legal aid has to be invoked, they are 
entirely unable to proceed without an appeal for special sub- 
scriptions. This is not as it should be. 
deal of trouble, however, would be saved if every parish 
had its map — and in duplicate for safety — with all public ways 
plainly marked upon it for all time. Disputes as to rights of 
way would then be less frequent. But in the meantime there 
really ought to be help forthcoming from public sources for 
those who, while unselhshly upholding the rights of the public, 
find themselves saddled with an expensive law-suit. It is, 
however, not to be assumed that upon every occasion when a 
dispute arises public money should be expended in setting it 
right. The court would probably find more than enough work 
to do upon these terms. But when a case such as that just 
referred to is backed so strongly by local support, surely a 
guarantee is created that the matter is a bona-fide one, and 
assistance might very well be forthcoming in order to give the 
public side of the (jnestion an equal chance with that of its 
opponents. The lack of monetary support on the part of the 
public to these cases is indeed the opportunity of those who 
would snatch a convenient stretch of common or way-side waste, 
or quietly close an unfrequented path across their lands. As an 
example of this often urgent need of monetary help, it is well 
known that it was only through the liberality of the Corporation 
of the City of London that West Wickham Common was at the 
last moment — when all other resources had failed — saved from 
enclosure, and I think the same may be said of the saving of 
Burnham Beeches. The local councils, as a rule, are not keen 
upon taking up rights of way questions. They know that 
among other disadvantages their settlement is both costly and 
uncertain. It is, however, satisfactory to jind that the County 
Councils can compel them to undertake these duties, as witness 
the recent report and decision of the Surrey County Council in 
the case of the ancient highway through Marden Park. 
Walker Miles. 
Birds near London. — I saw a woodcock flyover, as I was walking through 
Springfield Park, Acton, on Sunday, February 7. He was heading for Worm- 
wood Scrubbs and Willesden Fields, that happy hunting-ground of native sports- 
men, who, on Sundays especially, appear to be prepared, at a moment’s notice, to 
shoot anything, from a man to a hedge-sparrow. I have seen several kingfishers 
on that little brook and its tributary, the Kavensbourne, that runs in the valley 
between Penge and lieckenham, and am also sorry to say I was shown one that had 
just been shot there. 
A. .J B. 
