a
ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FRO-M A SOUTH LONDON SUBURB. However, in no part need be no reason for deeming it scarce. Tlie earliest of the country have I ever found it common. note I have of its song is February 25th, 1901.
RIXGDOVE. Resident in considerable numbers in Dulvvich Wood, and Brockwell and Dulwich Parks, and even m Brixton Road and Coldharbour Lane there have been nests within the last The bird has been much more plentiful here since few years. as may be witnessed m all the it became a London resident Parks about 25 years ago, and the local increase in numbers I have has been especially marked during the last 10 years. frequently observed one cooing from the roof of my house strange tameness for a species so wary as it is in the country, and yet still more wonderful is the absolute fearlessness of the in
—
—
—
some
birds in
of the
London
Parks.
coo " may be heard in January, if mild, but more usually about mid-February, and from then onwards " the latest " coo throughout the summer into early autumn " " The soar and flap perOctober 3rd. I have noted being formance is, I think, only exhibited by the male during the time of incubation, beginning usually about the middle or end but I have noted it on one occasion as early as 30th of March At the time of pairing, the male birds will fight January. fiercely, and many feathers are frequently lost in these en-
The
first
"
—
;
counters.
PHEAS.WT.
—
Dulwich Wood still harbours a few residents for one or more may be heard crowing there every year from April onigoi,
1
chanced upon
threading their in
seldom seen On 30th July, hen bird with three very young ones way silently through the thick ground herbage
although the birds are
wards,
a
Dulwich Wood.
MOORITEX. This bird breeds on all the ponds and lakes in the neighbouring Parks, although in greatly diminshed numbers in DulPrevious to that wich Park since the introduction of boating. unfortunate (from a Naturalist's point of view) event, the birds used to become charmingly tame, coming at once to be fed on hearing an imitation of their call, and even bringing with them their young when onh' a few weeks old. 25