206
NOTES.
The Tinamu in Essex.—Referring to Mr. Harting's paper "On the intro-
duction of a new game-bird (the Tinamu) into Essex, etc." (Essex Naturalist,
vol. ii., pp. 102—m), Mr. John Bateman, J.P., of "The Hall," Brightlingsea
(the introducer of the bird into this country), writes as follows in a letter to the
Editor:—"The Essex Naturalist reached me during harvest, and until that
was over I could not tell how many nests had hatched off, or how the experiment
stood for 1888. I now send the 'latest intelligence.' In last April, nine healthy
Tinamus were turned out of the aviary to join a possible two or three survivors of
the Tinamus of 1885-6, still at large in the neighbourhood. Their flute-like call
was soon heard in the meadows and rye grass, and all promised well; about June
15th the weather broke for good, and the diary of our observations is as follows :—
June 25th.—One nest completely destroyed in rye-grass by machine—it
contained four eggs—unsat.
June 26th.—One nest in marsh-meadow, six eggs—unsat.
August 20th.—A nest with four eggs on a grazing marsh was hatched off
(this was probably a second effort on the part of one of the pairs, whose
nests came to grief June 25th or 26th).
September 8th.—Nest found in barley, eight eggs, six of which were
hatched off, and two were bad.
September 8th.—Nest found just at the point of hatching eight eggs—these
were hatched out in an incubator, but the young all died the first sharp
frost. (N.B.—Second broods of partridges as late as this invariably
perish.)
September 9th.—One young bird, size of a landrail, killed accidentally by
reaper.
September 10th.—Two nests, each containing three eggs, found in badly
'laid' barley, i.e., the parent birds had lost sight and cognizance of
their nests. Eggs stale and completely spoilt.
September 16th.—One full grown tinamu shot by accident. One guinea
fine imposed on the slayer.
October 21st.—Four healthy tinamus arrive from Mr. Shennan's estancia of
'Negrete' on the River Plate. These will be enlarged in April, 1889.
Twelve started on the voyage, but eight died.
It follows that the maximum increase to the Tinamu population of Essex
(unless some nests were hatched off undiscovered) is :—4+6—1—1=8.—JOHN
Bateman, Brightlingsea, October 28th, 1888,"
Badger Killed by a Train at Theydon Bois.—In the "Essex County
Chronicle" for November 9th, Mr. E. Wederell of Theydon Hall, Theydon Bois,
recorded the fact that a badger had been found dead on the Great Eastern line
near Theydon, having apparently been killed by a passing train. Thinking that
this might be one of the animals turned out in the forest some time ago, we made
enquiries of Major McKenzie, the Superintendent of the Forest, and he has very
courteously forwarded us a copy of a report made to him by Mr. G. Foster, the Head
Forest Keeper. Mr. Foster reports :—"On November 5th, a Badger (dog) was
found dead alongside the line of rails between Chigwell Lane and Theydon Bois
Railway Stations, and close to a wood called 'Loughton Shores,' belonging to the
Rev. J. W. Maitland. The badger was found by Harry Parish, of Theydon Green,
a plate-layer in the service of the G. E. R. Company, when he was inspecting the
line of rails early on the morning of the above date. The animal was sold to James
Parish of the same place, who has had it stuffed. The weight of the badger was
42 lbs. (?) and its age doubtful, as it appeared to be an old one." Major McKenzie
has no doubt but that the animal is one of those turned out by Mr. Buxton. He adds,
"there are a good many young badgers in the forest, but we seldom see them."
Mr. Wederell also writes that the badger "had no doubt been an inhabitant of
Epping Forest, and had taken shelter in the wood adjoining the spot where it was
killed. I have made enquiries, and the majority of people seem to be of the same
opinion. Some say that a family of badgers are in the wood, which is certainly
very thickly wooded." It is stated that the badger will be on view at the "Bull
Inn," Theydon Bois, in the course of a month or so.—Ed.