84 EPPING FOREST.
rookery and heronry on the island in Wanstead Park,
where they also breed.
Carrion Crow. A few are always about; but they are
becoming rare in most parts of England. They nest in
several places in the neighbourhood. Their nests may
always be distinguished from those of rooks by the lining
of wool.
Hooded Crow. Occasional winter visitor.
Magpie. This predatory foe to other birds is happily not
common hereabouts. There are several about Loughton,
and they breed regularly in the Rectory garden. A pair
JAY.
used always to breed at Knighton, but I have not
observed them for two or three years.
Jay. The character of the thicket has greatly encouraged
this bird. The harsh rasping note with which he greets
an intruder, and his sly ways as he flits ahead, always
impelled by curiosity but always out of reach, enliven
the Forest, and yet this is the only bird upon whose
unlimited increase in the Forest I would place a check.
He is cruelly destructive of all other birds' nests, except
those which build in holes. A solemn order has gone
forth from the Guildhall for his destruction, but who