NOTES.—ORIGINAL AND SELECTED. 275
Geological Survey Memoir1 that this Post-deposit continues to be
developed both east and west of the above sections, and a figure
there shown represents it as deeply indented into the underlying
bed. I may mention that the Boulder-clay is well developed
on the Braintree line at about a quarter of a mile from the
Witham sections, and still further on it is found resting on
Westleton-gravel and sand.
NOTES—ORIGINAL AND SELECTED.
BIRDS.
Brambling in Essex.—This bird (Fringilla montifringilla)
is commonly esteemed a very irregular visitor, but is often seen
in winter in Epping Forest. On March 28th, 1906, Mr. Robert
Eve, of Maldon, sent two specimens to the museum, with a
note calling attention to the very unusual numbers of the
bird then in various parts of the county. Mr. Eve continued,
"the two specimens I send were killed yesterday at Witham out
of a flock of fully fifty birds. Besides the great numbers of these
somewhat uncommon birds, it is very curious that they should
be staying with us so late."
FISHES,
The Fishes of the Thames in 1746.—I have lately
come across a curious and interesting old book, by one Roger
Griffith, "Water-bailiff" to the Lord Mayor of London, which
was published in 1746 with the object of proving that the
Conservancy of the Thames is in the hands of the Corporation
of the City of London.2 With the greater part of the arguments
advanced by the author the members of the Essex Field Club
have no concern, but his remarks on the various kinds of fish
met with in the river in his day are, I think, worth reprinting.
Discussing the river, he exclaims :
How remarkably good is its salmon ! What fine large flounders, smelts,
shads, trout, graylin, perch, carp, barbell, chub, roach, dace, gudgeon, pike, and
other fish, as eels, lamprey, bleak, ruffe are caught above London Bridge; and
many other kinds of salt-water fish, as bass, mullet, turbots, soles, maids,
place, dabs, skates, thornbacks, halybuts, pearl, whiting, haddock, &c.,
1 "The Geology of the N.W. part of Essex, etc., being explanation of Sheet 47 (one-inch)
map of the Geological Survey.
2 An Essay to prove that the Jurisdiction and Conservancy of the River Thames is com-
mitted to the Lord Mayor and City of London (London, 80., 1746). The passage quoted occurs
on p. 21.