SURVEY OF THE PARKS : WEST LONDON 155 



montories or tongues of land here and there 

 running into it. These promontories, also the 

 chains of islands, form, in some cases, broad 

 green thoroughfares along which the birds come ; 

 the sinuous band of the Thames also forms to 

 some extent a thoroughfare. 



I believe it is a fact that in those parts of the 

 suburbs that are well timbered, and where the 

 houses have gardens and grounds, the bird 

 population is actually greater (with fewer 

 species) than in the country proper, even in 

 places where birds are very abundant. In parts 

 of Norwood, Sydenham, and Streatham, and the 

 neighbourhoods of Dulwich, Greenwich, Lee, 

 Highgate, and Hampstead, birds are extremely 

 abundant. Going a little further afield, on one 

 side of the metropolis we have Epping Forest, 

 and on the opposite side of the metropolis 

 several vast and well- wooded spaces abounding 

 in bird life — Kew Gardens, the Queen's private 

 grounds, Old Deer Park, S}on and Eichmond 

 parks, Wimbledon, &c. From all these districts 

 there is doubtless a considerable overflow of 

 birds each season on to the adjacent country, 

 and into London, and some of the large parks 

 are well placed to attract these wanderers. 



