54 THE MAMMALS, REPTILES, AND FISHES OF ESSEX.
Lord Rookwood supplies to the same volume (pp. 172-174)
some interesting reminiscences of Foxes in strange situations.
In the season of 1879-80, more than one was discovered, he
recounts, in a certain ivy-clad tree in his own gardens at Down
Hall. The animal was once quite forty feet above the ground,
and on another occasion three were seen at the same time on
branches of the same tree, from whence they were dislodged
by aid of a ladder and a long pole. During the following season,
SUPPOSED "WOLF" FROM ONGAR WOODS.
the beast's cunning suggested to him to make a bolt up the
chimney of some outbuildings at Fyfield, where his ears, and
finally his head, were seen protruding from the top, cautiously
observing the men and horses in the street. He then sprang
out on the other side of the roof, with the pack behind him,
but got away safely after all, and was lost.
[Canis (sp. incert.). Jackal.
A specimen of a supposed " Wolf" from Ongar Woods
(where it was taken after 1862) is now in the Essex Field