THE PROTECTION OF WILD BIRDS IN ESSEX. 133
A cordial vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Holmes for the trouble he
had taken in arranging and conducting the meeting.
The party then walked to the "Castle," immense earthworks, covering in
all about 11 acres. The principal part is an artificial (or more probably
partly artificial) oval mound, divided into two parts, one being nearly 100 feet
above the bottom of the outer ditch, and surrounded by embankments and
ditches. It is one of the largest earthworks of the kind in Essex, but
absolutely nothing beyond a few vague (and probably erroneous) statements
in the pages of our early histories is known of it. A summary of these records,
with sections and a view of the earthworks, was published by Dr. Laver
in the Trans. Essex Archaeological Soc., vol. iv. (N.S.), pp. 172-178, and
some further remarks on the supposed history and origin of the works
from the pen of Mr. J. H. Round appeared in vol. v., pp. 41-43. At the top
of the highest mound (upon which had been reared an immense bon-fire to be
lighted on the Jubilee night) Mr. Holmes demonstrated the salient features of
the fortification, and read the substance of a paper entitled "Notes on Ancient
Defensive Earthworks in connection with those of Rayleigh Castle." This
paper will be published in the next part of the Essex Naturalist. Accord-
ing to Murray's Handbook, Rayleigh Mound was examined "about 50
years since," when it was proved that about 20ft. of the height con-
sisted of made soil. No masonry was found. Both Mr. Holmes and Dr
Laver arrive at the conclusion that Rayleigh was a British Oppidum, but
they do this by very different lines of reasoning.
The view from the mound was so fine and extensive, and the interest
taken in the earthwork was so great, that only the near approach of 7 o'clock
induced the party to descend the hill to the railway station, to catch the last
train to London, and discuss on the way the incidents of a very pleasant and
profitably spent afternoon.
THE PROTECTION OF WILD BIRDS
IN ESSEX.
EXTENSION OF THE CLOSE TIMES UNDER THE
WILD BIRDS PROTECTION ACTS, 1880—1896, AND
THE PROTECTION OF SHORE BIRDS.
IN an article on this subject in the Essex Naturalist last
year (vol. ix., page 256) it was intimated that the County
Council then intended making application to the Home Secretary
for important extensions of the Close-time for Wild Birds in
Essex. We are glad to say that these applications have been
granted, and the operation of the Acts is now modified in a very
noteworthy way.
For the reasons set forth in the above-named article, an
Order of the Secretary of State was issued by the Clerk of the
County Council on the 31st of May, 1897, prohibiting the taking
or killing of any "Wild Bird" between the 15th day of March and