NOBTH-WEST AND NOBTH LONDON 191 



strip of green called Highbury Fields, there is 

 no open space nearer than St. James's Park, four 

 miles distant. Highbur}^ Fields (27 acres) was 

 opened to the public about twelve years ago, 

 and although small and badly shaped, it is by 

 no means an unimportant ' lung ' of North 

 London. To the inhabitants of Hisfhbury, 

 Canonbury, and Islington it is the nearest open 

 space, and though in so vast and populous an 

 area, is a refreshing and pretty spot, with good 

 shrubberies and healthy well-grown young trees. 

 A few years ago a small rookery existed at the 

 northern extremity of the ground, where some 

 old trees are still standing, but the birds have 

 left, it is said on account of the decay of their 

 favourite tree. Skylarks also bred here up to 

 the time of the opening of the ground to the 

 public. The only wild birds at present, after the 

 sparrows, are the starlings that come in small 

 flocks, and a few occasional visitors. A few 

 years ago it was proposed to make a pond : I 

 fear that the matter has been forgotten, or that 

 all the good things there were to give have been 

 bestowed on the show parks, leaving nothing for 

 poor Highbury and Islington. 



