THE AMERICAN GREY SQUIRREL IN THE BRITISH ISLES. 193
Euston Station; and there was a flamboyant account in the
Morning Post of 24th September, 1920, of the hunting of one in
Earl's Court Road.
In the western district they made their appearance at a later
date, being first observed in the central parks about fifteen
years ago (say 1908), but they did not become noticeable till
about 1914. The controlling authority, H.M. Office of Works,
have kindly given me a report for the Royal Parks and I have
included their information in these notes. (See also Appendix
B.) From this it appears that at present the estimated number
in the central parks is only about twenty, and the Department
having extended their patronage and approval to the efforts
to establish bird sanctuaries in the Royal Parks have determined
to keep down the numbers of the squirrels. Here are their
words from the published Report of their special Committee:—
"Another and serious danger to bird life arises from the
"presence of grey squirrels in large numbers in the Central Parks.
"The Committee realise that it would not be possible, on account
"of public opinion, entirely to exterminate the squirrels, but they
"are of opinion that the numbers should be kept down in Kensing-
"ton Gardens and in Hyde Park, and that they should be exter-
"minated, as far as possible, in Richmond Park."7 Such a policy
met with well-deserved and reasoned condemnation from Mr.
Oldfield Thomas of the British Museum (Natural History) and
others, but is being persisted in.
None of the other London Parks seems to harbour this squirrel
although casual occurrences have been reported; for instance,
Mr. W. S. de Lisle has seen it in Clissold Park.
Home Counties.
Essex.—Coming to the Home Counties the genius loci re-
quires that Essex be mentioned first, even although it is the
only one of the five in which the grey squirrel has not secured
a footing. I have only one definite record, kindly given me
by Miss G. Lister, from Mr. George Mitchell, whose work takes
him frequently through the Epping district. He knows the
grey squirrel well in its native North America and saw one in
the upper part of Epping Forest near Gaynes Park during the
summer of 1921, but has not seen it anywhere since. Miss
Johnson tells me that some years ago grey squirrels frequented
7. Bird Sanctuaries in Royal Parks, p. 5, H.M. Stationery Office, 1922.