Appendix Xo. 1. 
xxv 
themselves in any wood where sufficient food could be obtained. They 
live chiefly on acorns, nuts, beech-mast, growing bark, cones of larch and 
other pines, leafbuds and tender shoots, besides truffles and various kinds 
of fungi; and here it may be observed that such edible fungi as may be 
met with in the woods should not be inconsiderately kicked aside and 
destroyed, but left for food for the squirrels. 
With regard to birds, the smaller species will take care of themselves if 
bird-catching be strictly prohibited ; and there will always be plenty 
of summer migrants, such as blackcaps, garden warblers, nightingales, 
whitethroats, shrikes and flycatchers, if the underwood in the forest 
glades is left sufficiently in a wild, untrimmed, and natural condition to 
afford proper shelter and convenient nesting-places. 
The birds which stand most in need of protection (if the scheme which 
is contemplated is to be carried out) are those woodland species which 
hitherto have met with the greatest persecution at the hands of game- 
keepers—the kestrel, tawny owl, barn owl, carrion crow, magpie, jay, and 
green woodpecker. All of these are most attractive in appearance, and 
the three first-named extremely useful in keeping down rats and mice, 
which not only do much damage in plantations, but consume an immense 
quantity of pheasants’ food. 
In districts where game is strictly preserved, crows and jays are un¬ 
doubtedly destructive, from their partiality for eggs, which they systema¬ 
tically hunt for and suck. Within the area of Epping Forest, however, 
where game-preserving is not carried on to any great extent, this argument 
against their protection loses weight; and should they at any time become 
too numerous, their numbers may always be thinned by judicious 
trapping. 
In conclusion it may be observed that the scheme now proposed by the 
Essex Field Club, to restore the district of Epping Forest as much as 
possible to a state of nature, can only be carried out by resolute efforts on 
the part of the Conservators, and by the hearty co-operation and goodwill 
of landowners resident in the neighbourhood. If they will use their best 
endeavours to prevent the felling of timber, the clearing of underwood, 
and the formation of made roads, and will prohibit shooting between the 
first of February and the first of September, they will in due course have 
the satisfaction of seeing around them many beautiful forest birds and 
wild animals which have long been strangers to the neighbourhood, and 
will thus contribute in no small degree to the pleasure which hundreds 
will derive when enjoying a summer ramble through what still remains of 
the ancient forest of Essex. 
IY. 
The Conservation of Epping Forest froh the Naturalists’ 
Standpoint.* 
By Raphael Meldola, F.B.A.S., F.C.S., &c., Vice-President. 
The great expanse of primitive woodland in the immediate neighbour¬ 
hood of East London declared “open” to the public on May 5th, 1882, 
by Her Majesty the Queen, should be regarded as one of the numerous 
bequests to posterity marking the enlightenment of our times. The 
fee lin gs leading to the agitation for the preservation of open spaces in 
and around the metropolis are sure indications on the part of the public 
* This paper, read, before the Club at the meeting on February 2.1th, 1883, and. 
published in ‘Nature,’ vol. 27, p.447, is reprinted here as giving a fair su mmary of 
the arguments in favour of the preservation of the natural features of Epping Forest 
in accordance with the Act of Parliament.—E d. 
d 
