MAMMALS that the badger was not extinct in the Epping district when Mr. Buxton liberated some in 1886. In 1842 there were some badgers' earths or burrows on the sides of the hill near the woods at South Bemfleet. In Benton's History of Rochford Hundred (i. 197), is a record of one being captured in 1841 on Foulness Island, and another on New England. Another was unearthed at Asheld- ham Hall in May, 1 891 (Essex County Chronicle, May 29). In 1894, eleven were captured near Braintree (London Standard, May 17). One was shot in Brooke's Wood, Stisted, early in May, 1897 (Essex County Chronicle, May 14, 1897). 7. Otter. Lutra lutra, Linn. Bell Lutra vulgarts. Some years ago this was a very rare animal and seemed approaching extinction, but lately it has become much more common in all parts of the county. Most Essex rivers are now haunted by otters, and they are also to be found in the reed beds and fleets of the marshes. 8. Common Seal. Phoca vitulina, Linn. Occurs sparingly on all parts of the Essex coast, but is not seen every year. Properly speaking all the seals taken on the shores of this county can only be considered as stragglers. 9. Hooded Seal. Cystophora cristata, Erxl. Mr. W. B. Clark records (Zoologist, 1847, p. 1870) the capture of a specimen of this seal in the Orwell. It is now in the Ipswich Museum. As the Orwell empties itself into Harwich Harbour we are entitled to place this seal in our catalogue of the Essex fauna, although its normal habitation is within the Arctic Circle. 10. Grey Seal. Halichterus gryphus, Fabr. In the Annah and Magazine of Natural History for 1841 is a record of the capture of an example of this seal in the Colne. The specimen is now in the Cambridge Anatomical Museum. RODENTIA 1. Squirrel. Sciurui leucourus, Kerr. Bell Sciurus vulgarts. Common throughout the county. 2. Dormouse. Muscardinus avellanarius, Linn. Bell Myoxtu avellanariu. The distribution of this animal in Essex, as throughout England, is very unaccount- able. In some parts of the county appa- rently suitable to its habits it is not found. In others of exactly similar character it is common. Generally it may be said to be found in Essex where oak and hazel abound, or where there is sufficient woodland or over- grown hedgerow to protect it. 3. Brown Rat. Mus decumanus, Pallas. Much too abundant. 4. Black Rat. Mus rattus, Linn. Not uncommon in those parts of the county bordering on the docks. It is a question whether all these are not importa- tions. Probably extinct in the inland parts of Essex. 5. House Mouse. Mus musculus, Linn. Abundant everywhere. 6. Long-tailed Field Mouse or Wood Mouse. Mm syhiaticus, Linn. Abundant everywhere. 7. Harvest Mouse. Mus minutus, Pallas. Until the last three years this mouse had been frequent throughout Essex. The close cutting of the stubble has been assigned as a cause of the present infrequency of it, but this can scarcely be the case as the closely cut stubble has been the rule here for years. 8. Water Vole or Water Rat. Mtcrotus amphibius, Linn. Bell Arvicola ampbibius. Common wherever there are streams or pools. Black varieties occasionally are found. 9. Field Vole. Microtus agrestis, Linn. Bell Arvicola agrestis. Abundant in all grass lands. 10. Bank Vole. Evotomys glareolus, Schreber. Bell Arv'uola glareolus. Does not appear to be very frequent in Essex, although it was from this county that Yarrell obtained the first British specimen recorded. Probably it may be much more common than supposed if all voles captured were examined more carefully. 1 1 . Common Hare. Ltpus europaus, Pallas. Bell Lepus timiJiu. Formerly very frequent, but now in some districts approaching extinction in consequence 257 33
