CLASS MAMMALIA.
43
Bois station by a train (Essex County Chronicle, November 9th,
1888). Several more were reported from the Epping Forest
District at the same time.
In Mr. Philip Benton's History of Rochford Hundred it
is stated (vol. i., p. 197), that, so long ago as 1841, one was
captured on Foulness Island, and another on New England
Island. Both had burrows in the sea-wall. In May 1891,
a Badger was unearthed by a rabbit-shooting party on the
Asheldham Hall estate (Essex County Chronicle, May 29th).
Mr. B. Morris, writing in 1894 to a London newspaper
(Standard, May 17th), related that eleven Badgers had been
captured in a wood near Braintree shortly before, and ex-
pressed his regret that there should have been such a whole-
sale destruction of this interesting animal. It appeared,
however, from further correspondence published, that only
two of the number were killed, the remaining nine being set
at liberty in various parts of the kingdom, some being retained
in the county.
In 1896, I purchased a pair of young Badgers, lately
caught with their mother (who was unfortunately killed), at
Stanway, where Badgers appear to have continually existed.
They were liberated in the county on an estate where they
will be well cared for. One, weighing 28 lbs., was shot in
Brooke's Wood, Stisted, early in May, 1897 (Essex County
Chron., May 14th, 1897).
Remembering the above records, we may hope that the
Badger will long continue to be a member of the Essex
Fauna.
Genus LUTRA, Erxleben.
Lutra vulgaris, Erxleben. Common Otter
This animal is not as uncommon in Essex as it was in
years gone by, when there seemed every probability that the
Otter would become quite extinct in the county. Its dis-