Observations on the birds of a Suburban garden. 191


OBSERVATIONS ON THE BIRDS IN


A SUBURBAN GARDEN.


By A. A. Goodall.


Being a resident in the neighbourhood of Dulwich Wood—

made famous by its associations with the poet Byron, who, according

to tradition was in the habit of visiting the gypsies that made it

their home in the early part of the nineteenth century —I was much

interested in the article contributed by Mr. Stone in the December

issue of our magazine.


As most South Londoners know, Dulwich Wood forms a

connecting link between the distinct of the famous College and the

heights of Upper Sydenham, and many of the delightfully old-world

gardens of the fortunate residents of the latter neighbourhood abut

on the wood, to which their occupiers are privileged to have access.


As a bird sanctuary, Dulwich Wood and its immediate en¬

vironments has always been especially favoured, and the immunity

from disturbance which its feathered occupants enjoy is attributable

to the vigilance of the College authorities, who place serious obstacles

in the way of would-be intruders upon the property ; consequently

the various species of migrant and other birds making their home

there, suffer little from the depredations of the ubiquitous collector.


The writer has for many years had the opportunity of study¬

ing the avifauna of this beautiful spot, in parts so wild and secluded

that the visitor might well imagine himself a hundred—instead of

only five—miles from the great metropolis. Here every year, at

their appointed time, come many songsters from afar, whose liquid

notes bring with them the promise of summer’s wealth, and often

one may come across species not met with in seemingly more

favoured spots.


Among those not mentioned by Mr. Stone is the wood-wren

(Phylloscopus sibilatrix), which is a regular visitor to Peckarman’s

Wood, that being the name by which this particular part of what

remains of the Great Northwood is known. This charming song¬

ster may be heard continuously on a bright May morning, and I

have a note of a nest which I found among the tangle on the ground

in June, 1910: it contained three eggs and the same number of



