234 NOTES—ORIGINAL AND SELECTED.
to measure from mouth to tip of tail just 4ft. and weighed 27lbs. It is being
preserved by Mr. Pettitt, taxidermist, of Colchester."
Otter at Finchingfield.—It is reported that a fine dog Otter was caught
on January 31st, 1898, by Mr. W. Jealous, on the River Cant, at Robjent's
Farm.
Seal at Latchingdon.—On the occasion of the disastrous high tide on
the afternoon of November 29th, a seal was captured in Bridge Marsh Creek.
I have not at present been able to get fuller particulars.—Edward A. Fitch,
Maldon. 
AVES.
Owls Needed in Wanstead Park.—Mr. W. H. Rushen writes in Nature
Notes that "visiting Wanstead Park in September, I noticed a Kestrel hover-
ing over the big lake, but a few owls must be sadly needed there. Standing
perfectly quiet among the rushes near the refreshment-house, I was in a few
minutes almost surrounded by rats, quite a dozen of them, all ages and sizes.
The place seemed to swarm with them, but perhaps, by now a chance owl
will have discovered this happy hunting-ground, and thinned them out a little."
Another Essex Heronry.—To the four heronries still existing in our
county (see E. N. ii, 171 and Christy's Birds of Essex, pp. 180-4), I am now
able to add a fifth. It is a new one, but I trust that under Mr T. Knight's
care it may be protected and continue to enlarge. Four years ago there
were five nests in Tyle Hall Grove, Latchingdon ; their number has gradually
increased, and this year there were thirteen nests, the occupants of which
were all successfully hatched off. As I have previously recorded (E. N. ii. 174)
single nests have been known in the parish before, but now a fair sized colony
seems likely to establish itself, although the wood selected is quite small. At
Motts (or Moats) Farm, more generally known now as "The Buildings,"
St. Lawrence, there were two heron's nests for several years on a large
elm tree in the fence of the meadow at the back of the premises ; then but one
nest until two years ago when the pair of herons commenced building, but
the rooks drove them away ; this year they have not been seen. They were
carefully preserved by Mr. W. R. Laver. Battles between the herons and
rooks were frequent.—Edward A. Fitch, Maldon.
Grey Lag Goose (Anser cinereus) and Brent Goose (Bernicular
brenta) near Broxbourne.—I shot two specimens of the Grey Lag Goose
in the Lea Valley, near Broxbourne, during the severe weather which occurred
in February, 1895 ; and one Brent Goose in the same neighbourhood, and
about the same time as the Grey Lag.—E. Jenard Wills, Nazeing.
Another Essex Decoy.—In the third part of our colleague's, Mr. W. C.
Waller's, interesting and valuable article on Essex Field-Names contributed to
the Transactions of the Essex Archaeological Society we read (among the other Decoy-
names) of "Decoy Pond Mill" in the parish of Southminster (l.c. N.S., vi.
p. 264). The Rev. W. H. Lowder, Vicar of Southminster, tells me that there
are two references to this in his Tithe Award and Map ; they are both on
the New Moor Farm. No. 184. "Decoy Pond Field ; No. 185. "Decoy-
Pond." Mr. W. A. Hurrell, of Southminster, writes me under date
October 27th, 1897. "I was at the New Moor Farm yesterday, and made
inquiries; no one seems to know anything about a Decoy Pond, but they
say there is a place toward the marshes that looks like an old pond, and where