THE BIRDS OF THE CROUCH VALLEY IN 1921. 25
and other hard parts of beetles in the neighbourhood of the
nests. The spider rests inside the aerial portion of the tube,
back downwards, and insects are struck at when they walk over
it. I have seen earwigs dragged through the wall of the tube
in captivity and the rent afterwards repaired.
I would earnestly ask any who are interested in these creatures
to avoid doing anything to risk their extermination. They are
long lived and have numerous off-spring, but probably their
enemies are abundant enough without the addition of human
foes. Enock reported that on revisiting his old Hampstead
colony in 1885 he found very few of the nests left.
The colonies I have found in the Forest are distributed over
a large area, the nests are not easily seen unless specially looked
for, and as the ground is left in its natural wild condition, the
spiders should have a good chance of remaining permanent
representatives of their special group.
THE BIRDS OF THE CROUCH VALLEY IN 1921.
By WILLIAM E. GLEGG. F.Z.S., M.B.O.U.
THE records included in this note have all been obtained
during a series of visits made to the Valley in 1921. This
little survey includes the traversing of the course of the Crouch
from Wickford to the sea, and of both banks of the tidal water
from Battlesbridge to the sea, a circuit of Wallasea Island, a
visit to Foulness Island by the Broom Way, 24 hours being
spent on this still remote corner, and a visit, illicit it must be
confessed, to the Grange Decoy Pond.
From Battlesbridge eastwards the nature of the country,
from the bird point of view, suggests considerable possibilities,
and here that solitude which appeals to many naturalists may
be obtained easily. The northern bank of the river, broken
up by Fen, Clementsgreen, Stow and Bridgemarsh Creeks, and
accordingly very hard to work, is much more attractive than
the southern side, especially in the vicinity of North Fambridge,
where there is much more or less fresh water behind the sea-wall.
At two points, one on the north bank to the west of Fambridge,
and the other on the south, midway between Hull Bridge and
Fambridge, the sea has broken through the wall and reclaimed
its own. At both these places many acres, which were at one