184
COUNTESS OF WARWICK'S RECEPTION.
in some respects, in others by excessive encouragement of some kinds of
birds tended to the decrease of interesting species of insects. He thought
that the greatest benefit would arise from inculcating in young people a sense
of the sacredness of life, and the positive wickedness of destroying it, except-
ing under circumstances which necessitated or justified the act.
Mr. W. Cole said that owing largely to the exertions of Mr. E. N.
Buxton in obtaining the co-operation of owners of land immediately surround-
ing Epping Forest, that district was now one of the largest protected areas in
England. All birds, with very few exceptions, would in the future be there
cherished. The effects of legislative partial protection (the raptorial birds
being excepted) was visible in many districts, for in consequence of the
abnormal increase in the number of insect-eating birds, their insect prey had
much diminished. This fact showed that one-sided interference with the
balance of Nature might temporarily do harm, but as the raptorial birds
again increased he hoped that the due proportion of bird, animal, and insect
life in the forest would be restored.
Prof. Boulger's resolution was carried unanimously, and the cordial
support of the Club was also given to the scheme of the Entomological
Society for the protection of our native Insects.
Mr. G. E. Pritchett, F.S.A., made some interesting remarks upon the
remains of a maze near Tilty Abbey in this district. Such mazes, it appears,
were used as a means of penance in the olden time, the offenders being com-
pelled to crawl along the maze on hands and knees. He referred to Mr.
G. N. Maynard's paper on Mazes in the Essex Naturalist for 1897
(vol. iii., pp. 244-247).
The meeting thus terminated, and a tour of the gardens, which were in
the full splendour of their summer beauty, was then enjoyed by many, and
the aviary was visited, under the personal conductorship of Lady Warwick.
She has birds from many parts of the world, and many breed at Easton
which fail to do so in the Zoological Gardens. The creature which drew the
greatest amount of observation was an Australian Piping Crow, who was
evidently disposed to "show off." He threw up his bill, opened it wide, and
gave in the richest tones many a bugle-call and snatches of all sorts of tunes
from "Pop goes the weasel" (venerable in age) onwards to almost the latest
air-catching tune. He gave them in various keys, sometimes embellished
them with flourishes, and now and then tacked on at the close a distinctly
humourous ending. He was savage, and he was safely shut up, which were
fortunate things, for every one present would have liked to steal him ! A
"Laughing Jackass" was obliged, much against his will, to show himself
for a few moments. Lady Warwick remarked that she used to have two of
them, and then their odd laugh could be frequently heard ; but one died, and
the survivor had rarely laughed since. He had made friends with a squirrel,
and the two were now inseparable. As a matter of fact, the only way of getting
the bird out of its hiding place proved to be by means of the squirrel ; when
that pretty little creature was turned out to the front, the "Laughing
Jackass" followed. But it quickly bolted back again, and its bosom friend
hurried after it.