A more thorough explanation:

Definition: Drift of the forest is a historical term used to describe the periodic examination of forest cattle by officers who drive them to an enclosed place to determine their ownership or common status. The purpose of this examination is to prevent overgrazing of the common land, to keep out foreign animals that do not have the right to graze there, and to remove any non-commonable animals.

Example: In medieval England, the forest was a common area where people could graze their animals. However, to prevent overgrazing and disputes over ownership, the forest officials would conduct a drift of the forest. They would gather all the animals in a designated area and inspect them to determine which ones belonged to the locals and which ones did not. Any animals that did not have the right to graze in the forest would be removed.

Explanation: The example illustrates how the drift of the forest was used to regulate the use of common land. By inspecting the animals and determining their ownership, the forest officials could prevent overgrazing and ensure that only the locals had the right to graze their animals in the forest. This helped to maintain the balance between the needs of the community and the preservation of the forest ecosystem.