THE FAUNA OF THE NEW RIVER. 69
those of whom We know anything were later than the obvious
date of these portraits and none of them Was a medical man,
so far as is known. Thus there was one Robert Dale (perhaps
a great-grandson of Samuel Dale), who, after living at Bocking
(where, doubtless, he was born), left it as a young man (probably
very early in the Nineteenth Century) and removed to London.
There he carried on business as a dealer in trimmings for beaver
hats, residing successively at a number of addresses in and
around Finsbury and Moorfields. He was father of that well-
known dissenting preacher, the Rev. R. W. Dale (1829-1895),
of Birmingham, who was born in London after his father's
removal thither.114
NOTES ON THE FAUNA OF THE NEW RIVER
AND RESERVOIRS IN THE LEE VALLEY.
BADGERS, OTTERS, HERONS, WILD FOWL, AND
CARRION CROWS, Etc., WITHIN SIGHT OF
ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL.
By J. MACKWORTH WOOD, M.Inst.C.E.
(Read 5th July, 1919.)
AS many of the large Waterworks of the Metropolitan Water
Board are situated in the Lee Valley in the County of
Essex, it will probably interest the Members of the Essex Field
Club to know that some of the Mammals and Birds inhabiting
the County are resident on these Works and can be seen at any
time by casual observers when passing through the Reservoir
enclosures within six or seven miles of St. Paul's Cathedral.
During the great flood in January, 1918, a very fine male
Badger got into the Chingford aqueduct and was taken out
drowned at the weed grate at Chingford Mill. He must have
fought hard for his life, as all the toe nails of his front feet were
worn entirely down in his attempt to climb the stone walls
forming the sides of the. aqueduct—it is probable he came
from the vicinity of the Forest.
In the Walthamstow Reservoirs are islands covered with
brushwood and small trees. On these islands otters are living
114 See The Life of R. W. Dale, of Birmingham, by his Son, A. W. W. Dale, pp. 1-2 (Lond.,
1898).