THE AMERICAN GREY SQUIRREL IN THE BRITISH ISLES. 205
APPENDIX C.
Remarks on the Squirrels of Epping Forest.
by fredk. j. stubbs.
I lived five years (up to 1919) at Coppice Row, practically in the Forest
at Theydon Bois, I never saw a Grey in any part of the Forest, nor did
my wife, who knows the animal very well. In 1914 I noticed the scarcity
of [red] squirrels near Theydon, especially towards Navestock and Ongar,
where, five years before, I thought them normally common. The same
scarcity had been observed by others : Mr. H. B. Debenham, of Thrifts
Hall, Theydon Bois, well remembered Mr. C. E. Green of Epping (who died
about 1916), purchasing squirrels from a man at Leadenhall Street Market
and turning them loose on his estate at Epping. Writing now from mem-
ory it would be about 1916 when I began to notice jet black and red-tailed
squirrels (that is, red squirrels with tails the same colour as the body), near
Theydon. They were becoming troublesome to gardens, especially near
the Golf Links, and I handled a good few specimens. At that period I had
no leisure for much natural history work, but did compare the specimens
with the descriptions in Gerrit Miller's book, and with Mr. Oldfield Thomas's
article in the Zoologist. I did not submit specimens to any authority, but
assumed they were Sc. v. fuscoater, probably from the Continent. After
Mr. Debenham had told me about Green's experiment I wrote to Castang
at Leadenhall Market, but got no reply; and when I left Theydon Bois
I left the matter open, handing over the few specimens I possessed to the
Essex Museum. But Mr. Hamlyn told me that about the time Mr. Green
was buying squirrels, few if any British squirrels were coming into trade
hands. He was receiving them from the Balkans, from Italy, and from
Holland, perhaps also from Scandinavia. All these would, of course, be
sold as S. vulgaris, not necessarily with intent to deceive purchasers.
Later on, towards 1919, squirrels grew more noticeable near Theydon,
the majority being, from an inspection in the field, much like British squir-
rels. Very occasionally I saw one with the red tail at a season not agreeing
with Mr. Oldfield Thomas's statements on the seasonal changes. Some-
times I saw black ones; my wife has reported squirrels just the colour of
black cats. The grey squirrel had been reported Chingford way, but as I
say we never saw it; indeed, I can safely say that it did not inhabit our end
of the Forest between 1914-19. If casuals occurred they soon left again.
I would like to repeat my idea (perhaps nothing more) that the red squirrel
was decreasing in Essex after 1909; and the opinion of good observers
like Mr. Debenham is that this was really the case.
Ringed Plover at Walthamstow.—One of these birds was heard
calling at that part of the "Racecourse" which is contiguous to the sewage
farm, on which it probably was. Inland records of this species are decidedly
unusual for Essex. William E. Glegg, F.Z.S.
Meteorite at Ashdon.—On 9th March 1923, a meteoric stone, weigh-
ing 23/4lbs., was actually seen to fall by a labourer at Ashdon, and has been
acquired by the Mineral Department of the British Museum (Natural History).
Ed.