PARK ANIMALS FOR LONDON 



Although the idea of a municipal Zoo has fallen 

 through, there is no reason why the free crea- 

 tures of our public parks, whether in London or 

 elsewhere, should not be artificially increased 

 in number and variety. The recent agitation 

 against the too prolific city pigeon suggests that 

 certain natural enemies of this bird, and also of 

 the sparrow, might well be invited to take up 

 their residence among us. In this way the 

 columbine and passerine population might be 

 kept down to a working average without the 

 shock to our humanity which would be caused 

 by organised and periodical slaughters of these 

 innocents which feed on the crumbs from our 

 table. 



Of the hawk tribe, one naturally thinks of 

 the peregrine falcon — "the dove-killing hawk, 

 swiftest and strongest of flying things," as Homer 

 calls it — as the pigeon's natural enemy, and so, 

 indeed, it is. But if peregrines were turned loose 

 in London they would certainly not discriminate 

 between the emancipated pigeon of the streets 

 and the cherished homers and tumblers of private 



fanciers ; so that we must look to a bird which 



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