PREFACE.
vii
reproductions of some of the best wood-cuts in Bewick's
famous series. For the following exquisite little engravings,
I am indebted to the kindness of Mr. E. N. Buxton, in whose
work on Epping Forest they first appeared :—Great Tit (p. 93),
Long-tailed Tit (p. 92), Hawfinch (p. 114), Jay (p. 132), Green
Woodpecker (p. 148), Heron (2 cuts, pp. 180 and 183), Ring
Dove (p. 214), Pewits (p. 237) and Sparrowhawk (p. 169).
For the cut of the Little Ringed Plover (p. 236), I am in-
debted to Mr. Harting. A few have been specially drawn
and engraved by Mr. G. E. Lodge, and these I think will not
be severely criticised.
I have to acknowledge my great indebtedness to many
friends who have most obligingly supplied me with much
useful and valuable information. Among these may be men-
tioned Messrs. G. P. Hope, of Upminster Hall; F. Kerry, of
Harwich; Dr. Henry Laver, F.L.S, of Colchester; and Mr.
Walter R. Sackett, of Orsett. Each of these has supplied me
with a valuable list of the birds frequenting his particular dis-
trict, of which I have made extensive use, as will be seen in
the following pages. I am also under great obligations for
information to many other friends, including the Rev. J. C.
Atkinson, LL.D., Mrs. Bree, Major Ed. Taylor, Miss C. Fell
Smith, the Rev. H. A. Macpherson, the late Rev. Dr. Babing-
ton, the Rev. M. C. H. Bird, Messrs. G. H. Baxter, G. W.
Brewis, Joseph Clarke, F.S.A., Walter Crouch, Stanley
Edwards, Jonathan Grubb, J. H. Gurney, jun., F.L.S., &c, J.
F. Hills, Robert Page, James Round, M.P., Champion B.
Russell, Charles Smoothy, F. Spalding, Hy. Stephenson, Jas.
F. T. Wiseman, and many others. More especially am I
indebted to Mr. E. A. Fitch, of Maldon, President of the
Essex Field Club (who has rendered me constant and very
valuable assistance whilst passing the sheets through the
press), to Mr. Wm. Cole (to whom I am indebted for the
notice of the late Mr. English), to Mr. W. H. Dalton (who
has kindly assisted me with the index), to Mr. A. P. Wire