2 THE MAMMALS, REPTILES, AND FISHES OF ESSEX.
tide. The sea surrounding the Essex coast is
everywhere shallow, with a muddy or sandy bottom,
not a particle of hard rock being exposed in any single
part. The conditions of the sea-board, therefore,
while being most favourable for certain genera of fish,
are entirely unsuited to others. The rock-loving
species, for instance, are either very rare or totally
absent. The same may be said of the fish that live
in deep water.
Inland, Essex consists of an elevated table-land,
fairly timbered, and well cultivated in all parts. With
the exception of the Waltham Forest district, the
county is now without any extensive woods or large
wastes, although these existed in former times. Large
sheets of inland waters are also absent; and, owing
to the level formation of the surface, all the rivers
have a slow current. Although the valleys are at
times particularly subject to floods, yet the valley-soil
is not boggy, the land being firm up to the very
edges of the streams.
The climate of Essex is dry, the average rainfall
being lower than in any other English county.
MAMMALS.
The highly-cultivated condition of the county
has been unfavourable to the continued existence of
several of our larger Mammals, although the Epping