)IHE AMERICAN GREY SQUIRREL IN THE BRITISH ISLES. 197 
had almost negative results. At Torquay one was seen in Ig13,?° 
probably only a casual as I have not been able to ascertain that 
there are any there now. At Exeter some agitation followed 
the introduction of two pairs into the Rougemont Gardens 
there on 15th June, 1915. They throve exceedingly and became 
pests to the gardeners because of the destruction they did, and 
an edict of destruction was given effect to by the authorities. 
They had spread to some places near Exeter and an occasional 
one is still seen. At Durward about twenty were shot and they 
are said to be increasing in Stoke Wood. My informant adds: 
““nobody has a good word for the creatures.’’?? 
Enquiries made in other south-western and western counties, 
including SOMERSET, GLOUCESTER, WORCESTER and SHROPSHIRE ; 
and also in NORTH WALES, have pres forth only negative 
information. 
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE contains a number of colonies of. the 
grey squirrel, and there are authentic reports from many places 
including Burnham Beeches (which is a stronghold), Stoke 
Poges,?? Clieveden, Halton, Ivinghoe, the Aylesbury District, 
where it appeared previous to the year Igo (said to have spread 
from Woburn, Beds), Shalstone Manor, Buckingham, Stowe, 
Wakefield and Whaddon Chase. It is not everywhere in the 
county, as there are none in the parishes of Hambledon, Turville 
and Fingest.?3 There are reports of its occurrence in the Chiltern 
beech-woods, but it can scarcely be in any numbers there, as in 
many visits I have never seen a specimen. 
BERKSHIRE is almost blank, the only note I have being that 
a single grey squirrel was killed at Park Place, Wargrave, previous 
to 1919.74 
OXFORDSHIRE.—A grey squirrel was shot by Mr. G. Tickner 
- about seven years ago in the Oxford District, and he believes 
that they have.spread from Nuneham where some were appar- 
ently turned down a few years ago.25. Mr. O. V. Aplin writes 
that in North Oxfordshire they spread from the east and north- 
east, about 1916, and that. a local birdstuffer had quite fifty 
to stuff in 1922. 
20 fide Mr. T. A. Coward. 
21 fide Mr. J. L. Sagar. 
22 I am informed by Mr. M. C. Duchesne that about zoo were killed last year at Burnham 
Beeches and by Mr. H. Howard-Vyse, 30 at Stoke Place. 
23 fide Mr. Alfred H. Cocks. 
24 fide The late Mr. Heatley Noble, 
25 Mr. B. W. Tucker in lit. 5th February, 1923. 
