A PLEA FOR THE ESSEX RAVENS.
183
all likely that their numbers will be replenished from Norway, as is
the case with the buzzard and the kite, which for this reason only
still maintain a foothold in the Eastern counties. Ravens are stay-
at-home birds; it is contrary to their habits to wander, and it is vain
to expect any renewal of their numbers by immigration from the
Continent. All I would say is—let not the Essex ornithologists of
the next generation have cause to reproach us with indifference, in
regard to birds which when once destroyed off the face of the country
can not be put back again. Of course ravens do a certain amount of
damage, but it is the interest of shepherds and gamekeepers to exag-
gerate it. I am much mistaken if the landowners of the wealthy
county of Essex will listen to any plea of that kind, or grudge the loss
of a few pounds to preserve the last remnants of a race of ravens in a
few historic spots where their hoarse croak, but for timely aid, will
never be heard again. It may still not be too late to reinstate a pair
at the Raven-Elm on Northey Island, alluded to by Mr. Fitch, although
he considers that the tree has not been resorted to for nesting pur-
poses for five years. In 1866 a correspondent of the "Zoologist,"
Mr. W. V. Legge, visited three ravens' nests in Essex in a day
("Zoologist" 1866, p. 599), and as he says nothing about the birds
being persecuted, they may still be tenanted, and from this source
Northey and Osea islands might be restocked with Essex bred birds.
He found the ravens nesting in tall elms in hedgerows, and considered
that they did not leave the country to migrate south in winter—
indeed, winter may almost be said to be the raven's time for nesting
—and Mr. Legge found their "eggs far advanced in incubation," on
March 16th.
Badgers near Epping.—I send notices of the occurrence of badgers near
here, one of them many years ago, which have not been recorded. About the year
1850 a skin of a badger, without either legs or skull, was brought to me to be
stuffed. The history of the specimen was as follows:—A boy employed by the
keeper of the Hill Hall Woods, Theydon Mount, near Epping, to assist at a rab-
biting party, was sent forward with dogs, net, spade, etc. Wide in the woods
the boy saw a badger go to ground, and he at once set to work to dig it out. It
was a bold attempt, but he succeeded, and straightway killing the badger, he
skinned it by the summary process of cutting off its limbs and opening up the
animal from the tip of the nose to the tail, purposing to make a waistcoat of the
pelt! But one of the dogs having been wounded in the fight, the boy was obliged
to disclose the matter to the keeper, and the mutilated skin was sent to me for
preservation. I obtained the legs, and although the skull was not forthcoming,
yet with an artificial skull contrived for the purpose, and by taking great care, I
managed to make a presentable specimen. Another badger was shot by the
keeper in the same woods in 1874, and this I also set up—James English,
Epping, July, 1887.