Ants' eggs
David Bloomfield Hortons, Mascalls Lane, South Weald, Brentwood CM14 5LJ
Many years ago I was visiting an old neighbour who had moved to an old park site/
the former house of which was the centre of a large agricultural estate/folly, lake,
shrubbery, walled garden etc. My friend was telling me about the large bags of
pheasant which were shot by the typical shooting parties in the Edwardian era. There
were then still many old men still living locally who had served this in their youth. I
was particularly interested to hear about one, who as a boy, had the job of raking ant
nests in the park for the young pheasants to cat the 'eggs' (we would use the word
larvae). I take it for granted the ant nests were in the open. Those of you who are
knowledgeable will be able to put a name to the probable species involved. I expect
this valuable source of animal protein was carefully rationed over the period when it
would do most good to the young poults.
Some years later I took an old friend of the same generation back to the countryside
of his youth. He told me about a trip to Norsey Wood, Billericay, in the company of
Tom Cross, underkeeper at Thorndon Park, who was later to be the last full-time head
keeper.
The reason for the trip was to get ants' eggs for the pheasants being reared in the park.
With my earlier knowledge I did not need to ask for detail; this was of course to
provide protein for the young poults. However these were wood ants, and the whole
above ground pile of vegetable matter was shoveled into a cart. Before they left they
dressed the horse with paraffin to stop the adult ants, of which there were of course a
large number, from stinging the horse. It was convenient to go to Norsey Wood on
green lanes, but it was certainly better that they returned across country with their
load, which would have been an unfriendly one.
More on Magpie behaviour
John Thomson Lawlings, 3 Hyde Lane, Danbury, Chelmsford CM3 4QX
I was interested to read David Bloomfield's account of Magpie behaviour on p.8 of the
January newsletter. Some 15 years ago, when I lived in Surrey, I looked out and saw my
Siamese cat playing with a mouse on the lawn. A Magpie landed nearby and started
walking towards the cat. The cat threatened, and the Magpie stopped. The cat turned its
attention back to the mouse, and the Magpie walked a few steps closer. Eventually the
cat dropped the mouse and rushed at the Magpie, which flew up over the cat's head,
down to pick up the mouse, and away.
Essex Field Club Newsletter No. 56, May 2008
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