Bird Life in a Suburban Parish 111 



bird arc'liitecturc. \\'lietlier j)l;ic'C'(l in tiie oiuirlcd and rugged 

 bniiiclies of the elder, or liiddeii anioiig the dehcate white 

 spaiioles of "may " or l)hiekthorii, it is always worth stopping 

 to admire ; still more so if tlie mother-bird remains on her 

 eggs, looking at you with (juiet and fearless eyes, as slie will 

 do if you move discreetly. The ])icture tlien is perfect in 

 every way. Do not spoil it by disturbing her and robbing 

 her of her treasures. 



The nortliern suburbs of London and tlie adjacent country 

 is the chosen home of the Ilawfincli. In the numerous 

 orchards and market-gardens in tiiis neiglibourhood it is 

 a fairly abundant species. I^nfortunately their fondness for 

 green peas leads tliem into trouble, and makes them very 

 unpopular with gardeners. In spite of the numbers wliich 

 suffer from their misdeeds in this direction, it is one of the 

 few birds whicli appear to be increasing in numbers and 

 spreading into localities where it has been pre^'iously looked 

 upon as a rarity. 



I have seen numbers of the nests botli in the aj^ple- 

 and pear-trees of orchards and in luiwthorns in parks and 

 fields. The birds are very silent and unobtrusiAc, but are 

 sometimes seen while lying in wait for other birds. The 

 enormous beak is their chief characteristic, and one by which 

 they may be readily known. Another feature, which is only 

 seen when in the hand, is the curious notching of tlie primary 

 feathers. 



The Goldfinch is too much in demand among bird-catchers 

 ever to be a common bird near I^ondon or any other large 



