THE EPPING FOREST MUSEUM
75
The Magpie in Essex
By M. T. Parker
Miller Christy in the Birds of Essex states that the Magpie is
a scarce resident, except in a few localities; though formerly quite
common. In an attempt to confirm this, Members of the Essex
Field Club were asked to send me records of any birds seen. So
far 40 records have been received for 1959 and 1960. The records
received would appear to confirm Christy's observations, but many
more records are required for areas in the North of the County,
Colchester area, and areas bordering on the Thames Estuary.
The following is a brief summary of records to date: —
(a) Chingford, Woodford, Gilwell Park .................. 5 records
(b) Stratford ................................................... 1 record
(c) Wanstead ................................................ 1 record
(d) Gidea Park, Harold Wood, Great Warley Street ... 9 records
(e) Havering Green, Stapleford Abbots .................. 8 records
(f) Kelvedon Hatch, Coxtie Green ........................ 2 records
(g) Fobbing ................................................... 1 record
(h) Harlow ................................................... 1 record
(i) Brentwood School Fields .............................. 1 record
(j) White Roding ............................................. 1 record
(k) Galley-Wood Common ................................. 1 record
On the morning of 7th February 1960 Mr. C. B. Pratt saw 8
Magpies on a thorn bush at Fairmead Bottom, Epping Forest.
Many more records are still required to complete the picture
in order to confirm Miller Christy's observations.
Reference
Christy, Miller (1890). The Birds of Essex. Essex Field Club Memoir, 2.
The Epping Forest Museum
On Monday, 13th November 1961, our President attended
before the Epping Forest Committee of the Corporation of London
to hand over formally the exhibits now in the Epping Forest
Museum established at Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge at
Chingford.
The President referred to the Club's long and close connection
with the Museum, for it was on the initiative of the Club in 1883
that the Museum was eventually opened in 1895. Since that date
the Club has provided the exhibits and maintained them, has
published a handbook and provided curators. Reference was
also made to the sterling work of Mr. B. T. Ward who had acted
as Hon. Curator since 1948 and was now a member of the Com-
mittee.