Those signs will be noticed first which are obviously derived from some prominent tree or trees growing close to the houses called after them. These seem generally to be of very modern origin, as they figure but sparsely in the list printed forty years ago. Most of them, it will be noticed, are in the vicinity of London. There is a BAY TREE at Stratford, a CHESTNUT TREE at Walthamstow, an ELMS at Leytonstone, a FIR TREES at Wanstead, a FOUR ASHES at Takeley, a GROVE Tavern at Walthamstow, a HOLLY BUSH at Leyton, and another at Loughton, a HOLLY TREE at Forest Gate, and a MAY BUSH at Great Oakley. The sign of the WILLOWS appears at Willingale Doe. There is also on the list a THREE ASHES at Cressing, and another at Chelmsford, while forty years since there was another at Rochford, a YEW TREE at Great Horkesley, and another at Felstead (beer-house), a THREE ELMS at Chignal St. James (which has three elm trees in front of it), and no less than seven CHERRY TREES in different parts of the county, although forty years ago only four were in existence. The THORN INN at *Mistley seems to have been in existence since 1786 at least, as it is mentioned in an advertisement in the _Chelmsford Chronicle_ for February 24th in that year. Its sign is, obviously, connected with the old name of the place, which was Mistley Thorn. In the _Very Young Lady’s Tour from London to Aldborough and Back_ (1804, see p. 37) occurs the following: “Our first stage is to Mistley; we stop at the Thorn, And shall see the fine sights which that village adorn.”