196 THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
there has two specimens taken in 1920 and also two albinos,
one a young animal from Moat Park in 1922. Holwood, Keston,
has yielded a specimen as reported by Mr. C. C. Fagg. At
Bessenden, near Cranbrook, some were introduced ten years
ago and about four or five years ago they appeared at Stone-
wall Park, Edenbridge, where Mr. E. G. B. Meade-Waldo states
that they were not introduced. He names other places in
that locality where they occur (Hever, Chiddingstone, Pens-
hurst, Cowden and Poidcombe), and says that they are perhaps
increasing slowly in number. He makes the interesting observa-
tion that possibly five per cent of the squirrels are grey and
that there are plenty of red squirrels in the district.
Passing from the Home. Counties we come to :—
Sussex.—Mr. W. Ruskin Butterfield, of Hastings, reports
that he is not aware of any recent introduction and he believes
that the occurrences in the Hastings district are due to gradual
extension of range. Grey squirrels have been seen at Battle,
Crowhurst, Beauport, Sidlescombe, Westfield, Pevensey, Robert-
bridge, Bodiam, Brede, Rye and other places, and are decidedly
on the increase. Mr. Butterfield has had three albinos from the
Hastings District. At Horsham, West Sussex, four specimens
appeared about eight years ago, probably escapes from Leonards-
lee where they were kept in a large cage, and Mr. J. G. Millais,
who reports this, says that at present there are only a few,
apparently not increasing in numbers.15
Hampshire.—For this county I have only two positive
reports and many negative ones; no grey squirrels are known
in the New Forest or about Southampton16 and none in the
Isle of Wight.17 The occurrences reported are, one at Yateley,18
and at Bournemouth, "where the municipal authorities, with the
object of adding to the attractions of the place, made an
introduction about two years ago, and the numbers are said to
have certainly increased.19 There is a report that they have been
turned out near Newton Valence, but this requires verification.
Devonshire.—In South Devon it has been stated that
the grey squirrel is fairly abundant, but my enquiries have
15 I saw one in Buckhurst Park, East Sussex, on 2nd April, 1923, and had seen a red squirrel
a few minutes previously about a quarter of a mile away.—H. B. W.
16 fide Mr. W. Dale and others.
17 fide Mr. Frank Morley.
18 B. E. S. The Field 27th April, 1918, p. 566.
19 Dr. F. G. Penrose, Presidential Address, Bournemouth Natural Science Society, 22nd
October, 1922.