The Naturalist on the Thames

The Naturalist on the Thames

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Title: The Naturalist on the Thames
Author: C. J. Cornish
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[Illustration: FOX FLUSHING PHEASANTS. _From a drawing by
Lancelot Speed._]
THE NATURALIST ON THE THAMES
BY
C.J. CORNISH, F.Z.S.

PREFACE
Having spent the greater part of my outdoor life in the Thames Valley,
in the enjoyment of the varied interests of its natural history and sport, I
have for many years hoped to publish the observations contained in the
following chapters. They have been written at different intervals of
time, but always with a view to publication in the form of a
commentary on the natural history and character of the valley as a
whole, from the upper waters to the mouth. For permission to use those
which have been previously printed I have to thank the editors and
proprietors of the Spectator, Country Life, and the Badminton
Magazine.
C.J. CORNISH.
ORFORD HOUSE, CHISWICK MALL.

CONTENTS
THE THAMES AT SINODUN HILL
THE FILLING OF THE THAMES
THE SHELLS OF THE THAMES
THE ANTIQUITY OF RIVER PLANTS
INSECTS OF THE THAMES
"THE CHAVENDER OR CHUB"

THE WORLD'S FIRST BUTTERFLIES
BUTTERFLY SLEEP
CRAYFISH AND TROUT
FOUNTAINS AND SPRINGS
BIRD MIGRATION DOWN THE THAMES
WITTENHAM WOOD
SPORT AT WITTENHAM
SPORT AT WITTENHAM (_continued_)
A FEBRUARY FOX HUNT
EWELME--A HISTORICAL RELIC
EEL-TRAPS
SHEEP, PLAIN AND COLOURED
SOME RESULTS OF WILD-BIRD PROTECTION
OSIERS AND WATER-CRESS
FOG AND DEW PONDS
POISONOUS PLANTS
ANCIENT THAMES MILLS
THE BIRDS THAT STAY
ANCIENT HEDGES
THE ENGLISH MOCKING BIRD
FLOWERS OF THE GRASS FIELDS
RIVERSIDE GARDENING
COTTAGES AND CAMPING OUT
NETTING STAGS IN RICHMOND PARK
RICHMOND OLD DEER PARK
FISH IN THE LONDON RIVER
CHISWICK EYOT
CHISWICK FISHERMEN
BIRDS ON THAMES RESERVOIRS
THE CARRION CROW
LONDON'S BURIED ELEPHANTS
SWANS, BLACK AND WHITE
CANVEY ISLAND
THE LONDON THAMES AS A WATERWAY
THE THAMES AS A NATIONAL TRUST

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

A FOX FLUSHING PHEASANTS
WILD DUCK
A FULL THAMES
SHELLS OF THE THAMES
A FLOWERY BANK
BURR REED AND FLOWERING RUSH
A MONSTER CHUB
BUTTERFLIES AT REST
A TROUT
OTTERS
A WATERHEN ON HER NEST
A DABCHICK
A BADGER
FOX AND CUB
EWELME POOL
A NIGHTJAR AND YOUNG ONE
A REED-BUNTING
PEELING OSIERS
BOTLEY MILL
EEL BUCKS
ORCHIS
WATER VIOLET AND WILD IRIS
A NETTED STAG
BREAM AND ROACH
A GRAMPUS AT CHISWICK
SMELTS
THE LOBSTER SMACK INN, CANVEY ISLAND
THE STEPPING-STONES AT BENFLEET
HAULING THE NETS FOR WHITEBAIT
FISHING BOATS AT LEIGH

THE NATURALIST ON THE THAMES

THE THAMES AT SINODUN HILL
Fresh water is almost the oldest thing on earth. While the rocks have
been melted, the sea growing salter, and the birds and beasts perfecting
themselves or degenerating, the fresh water has been always the same,

without change or shadow of turning. So we find in it creatures which
are inconceivably old, still living, which, if they did not belong to other
worlds than ours, date from a time when the world was other than it is
now; and the fresh-water plants, equally prehistoric, on which these
creatures feed. Protected by this constant element the geographical
range of these animals and plants is as remarkable as their high
antiquity. There are in lake Tanganyika or the rivers of Japan exactly
the same kinds of shells as in the Thames, and the sedges and reeds of
the Isis are found from Cricklade to Kamschatka and beyond Bering
Sea to the upper waters of the Mackenzie and the Mississippi. The
Thames, our longest fresh-water river, and its containing valley form
the largest natural feature in this