270
NOTES.
e.g., "Hog Lane," which occurs not uncommonly in the Eastern counties. Then
there are the numerous "Gallows Fields" (which are nearly always copyhold in
tenure), and the "Hangman Woods," "Hangman's Acres," etc.—the derivation
of which present difficulties, but which he thought was a subject worthy of study
by their antiquarian members.1
A paper "On the reported Breeding of the Scops Owl (Scops giu) in Essex,"
by Mr. Miller Christy, was read by the Secretary. The paper will appear in a
future number of the Essex Naturalist.
The President remarked that if the breeding of the Scops owl in Essex could
be proved, it would be an important fact, inasmuch as Mr. Howard Saunders,
in his recently issued "Manual of British Birds," was of opinion that the only
authenticated instance of the bird's breeding in England was in Norfolk in
November 1861.
Votes of thanks to the authors of the papers were passed, and the meeting
concluded with the usual service of light refreshment.
Grey Phalarope in Essex.—"On November 21st a Grey Phalarope
(Phalaropus fulicarius, L.) was brought to me for preservation. It was killed
with a stone from a catapult on Wanstead Flats.—J. G., Forest Gate," in "Field,"
December 1st, 1888.
Hopes of the Great Black Woodpecker (Picus martius).—Mr. C. J.
Strong, of Peterborough, the owner of a British-killed great white heron, writes :
—"A scarcer bird still was to my certain conviction, and not only mine but that
also of my sister, killed on a tree just outside my garden when I was a boy—the
great black woodpecker. To my deep regret I have been unable to substantiate
this fact, as my father refused to purchase the bird (this we both vividly remember)
of the gardener who shot it, and it disappeared. This man is, or was lately, still
alive, but failed to remember the fact when I was trying to make a good case out
for Mr. Gould's work. I have, however, personally no doubt whatever of the
occurrence of the bird here."—Communicated by Mr. J. H. GURNEY (jun.), F.L.S,,
of Keswick Hall, Norwich.
Late Staying of Martins and Swallows.—On the 20th of November I
saw a number of birds flying over some "saltings" near this town, which I
believe were sand-martins, but I could not get near enough to be sure of the
species. On mentioning the matter yesterday to Mr. S. Ratcliffe, of Woodham
Walter, he told me that he had watched two martins flying about the house for
fully an hour on the 22nd inst.—Robert H. Eve, Fullbridge, Maldon, Novem-
ber 24th, 1888. [In the "Field" for December 1st, Lieut.-Col. Marsden records
the fact that an old swallow with full-forked tail was merrily hawking about in
the sunshine on November 26th, over a pond at Great Oakley, Essex.—Ed.]
Otter at Stisted.—On the 6th of January, a vixen otter, weighing 15 lbs., and
measuring 3 feet 6 inches in length, was shot on the Stisted Hall estate by Mr.
Baine, bailiff to Mr. Savill-Onley Onley.—"Essex Weekly News," January 20th,
1888.
1 There is a "Hangboy Slade" in Epping Forest, and we have been told that the part of the
forest on the Woodford and Buckhurst Hill' Road, after the old Turnpike house, and near where
"Knighton" now stands, was formerly known as "Hangman's Wood." Mr. Robarts points out
that Warner ("Plantae" p. 96) gives as a locality "opposite Hagger Lane near the Gibbets," and
suggests that "Hagger" is a corruption of "Hanger," and he adds—"there was formerly a
Hanger Lane at Stamford Hill, on the highway to Tottenham, the famous dangerous place for
highwaymen—possibly a "hanging" place, "pour encourager les autres,"
Until a year or two back a "Pig Lane" existed at Buckhurst Hill, but the name has been
stupidly changed to "Beech Lane." Dedham also boasts of a "Pig Lane," and there are. we
believe, others in Essex. In the "East Anglian" several plausible derivations of "Hog Lane"
are suggested :—(1) a way by which hogs were driven into the forest to avoid a longer and more
difficult path; (2) a lonely unfrequented way, inspiring fear (A. S. Hogge, care, fear) ; (3) a
steep and hilly way (Hugh, a hill) ; (4) that it is a relic of old days when the manor was every-
thing, when swineherds exercised their office, and hogs were fed and tended. In connection
with these suggestions the name of "Hog Hill," in Hainault Forest, will be remembered.—Ed.