194
THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
her garden at Loughton but they disappeared. In Epping
Forest there are alien squirrels of another species, as reported
in Mr. F. J. Stubbs' note appended. (See Appendix C.)
Hertfordshire.—In Ashbridge park (partly in Herts and
partly in Bucks) the grey squirrel is well known; I sa w one
in the year 1916 and it is now plentiful. It occurs on Berkhamp-
sted Common and elsewhere on the North side of the valley there
but has not been seen yet on the south side.8 At Tring Park
stray specimens had been reported previous to 1914 and there
seems to have been no increase, as at present it is still rare and
is seen only now and then, singly or in pairs. These are genuine
wanderers, as it was never introduced at Tring.9 Another
locality where a fine specimen was obtained in 1919 is Oxhey
Wood, near Watford, and it is said to exist in Knebworth Woods,
but this requires verification. In North Hertfordshire Mr.
Ray Palmer writes that he has not seen more than three indi-
viduals, one of which was dead, and Mr. W. Percival Westell
tells me that it is unknown in the Letchworth area.
Middlesex.—Bushy Park, as already remarked, has the
distinction of being the first place into which grey squirrels were
introduced into England in the year 1890. Although unsuc-
cessful then, they reappeared about twenty years ago and are
increasing in numbers. At Hampton Court they have been
known for about seven years but are only in small numbers,
about fifteen. Further down the Thames at East Twickenham
and St. Margaret's, specimens are believed to have been brought
from the Regent's Park and liberated in gardens, from whence
they wandered, one appearing in Major G. Hurlstone Hardy's
garden at Twickenham in 1914. They are not increasing in
numbers and Major Hardy does not believe that any colony
has been established.
Surrey.—In Richmond Park grey squirrels were first seen
about twenty-five years ago (1898) at the Kingston end, probably
turned down by someone, and there they found a congenial home
and flourished.
Since 1915, when a bird-sanctuary was formed, they have
been systematically shot down by order, as they were over-
running the place. They continue to exist, and are estimated
8 fide Mr. Chas. Oldham.
9 fide Dr. E. Hartert.