252 BIBDS IN LONDON 



other architectural freaks of a similar character. 

 That the inhabitants of Fulham can see unmoved 

 this vulo'arisation of so noble and beautiful a 

 remnant of the past — the spot in London which 

 recalls the moated Bishop's Palace at Wells — 

 is really astonishing. 



To the bird-lover as well as to the student 

 of 1 list or}' this is a place of memories, for here 

 in the time of Henry YIII. spoonbills and herons 

 built their nests on the old trees in the bishop's 

 grounds. At the present time there are some 

 sweet songsters — thrush, blackbird, robin, dun- 

 nock, wren, chaffinch, and a few summer visi- 

 tants. Here, too, we find the wood-pigeon, but 

 not th(^ ' ecclesiastical daw ' or other distin- 

 guislied species, and, strange to say, no moat- 

 hen in tlie large old moat. How much more 

 interesting this water would be, witli its grass- 

 gi-own banks and ancient shade-giving trees, 

 if it liad a few feathered inhabitants ! Simply 

 by lowering the banks at a few ponits and 

 planting some reeds and rushes, it would quickly 

 attract those two very connnon and always 

 interesting London species, the moorhen aiid the 

 little grebe. The sedge-war])ler, too, would per- 

 liaps come in time. 



