196 ESSEX BIRD PROTECTION SOCIETY.
birds to the whole year in such parishes as are within the 
Metropolitan Police Area, and also protects the eggs of certain
species. In this part of the county the Bird Protection Society
do not employ any watcher, but confine themselves to doing
what they can to second and stimulate the zeal of the police, who
are now generally active in enforcing the law. The President
of the Society, Mr. E. N. Buxton, to whose initiative is due the
reafforestation of Hainault, has also induced the owners of most,.
if not all, the estates adjoining the Forest, to extend their protec-
tion to certain species of birds, e.g., herons, ducks, kingfishers,
magpies, kestrels, and owls, with satisfactory results. Reports
from the owners of these estates and from the Forest keepers
are received by the Bird Protection Society, and from them it
would appear that owls, both barn and tawny, are certainly more
numerous than they used to be. Magpies, never common in this
district, breed regularly on one or two estates, but the number of
nests reported remains about constant. Kestrels would certainly
increase, but unfortunately, they often fall a victim to the
temptations put in their way by the artificial rearing of
pheasants, and so lose the good character they ought to enjoy
It is particularly satisfactory to learn that there appears to be a
decided increase in the number of goldfinches, a bird which has,
it is to be feared, peculiar attractions for the birdcatcher.
Beyond making the suggestion that goldfinches might, like
kingfishers, be protected throughout the county during the whole
year, it would appear that the protection afforded to our Essex
birds by the Order of 1901, is fairly adequate, and all that is
necessary is that the Order should be enforced. It may be
suggested, however, that the Order might be somewhat simplified,
meanwhile the Essex Bird Protection Society is probably wise
in confining itself to working on the lines of the Protection Order
and can claim some share in helping to make it effective.
Additional interest would be given to its annual reports if those
interested in ornithology in the County would send any notes of
interest in their district to me as secretary; I am always glad to
receive and incorporate any such notes in the reports. (Address:
Longhton, Essex.)