ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM A SOUTH LONDON SUBURB. 
usually associated with Rooks; but in October, 1890, and again 
in 1893 the movement was more marked than before or since, 
and in these years they were in larger parties, without the Rook 
admixture. Though the species is seldom observed here in 
the summer months, on July 5th, 1890, I noticed an extra- 
ordinary and clamorous party of fifteen crossing my garden. 
JAY. 
A resident and breeding species, although in much dimin- 
ished numbers during the last 15 years or so. I reckon that 
three or four pairs at the most nest in Dulwich Wood at the 
present time. 
It is in the early spring that they are most in evidence, 
for their cries and “ songs,” as well as squabbles, during court- 
ship are many and frequent; furthermore, the bird 1s much 
tamer at this time than usual. It is when seeking partners 
that the most varied notes are heard, for then the male, from 
a tree-top, will crow — just like a Crow, but fainter — chuckle, 
and even laugh, but these utterances occur only at this time, 
and cease with nidification. All the rest of the year the chief 
note is the harsh scream possible only to a Jay or Parrot. 
When the nest is finished, and the hen bird sitting, no bird is 
more sly- or quiet, so careful are they both to “conceal the 
whereabouts of the nest; in fact, the bird might be non-exist- 
ent, and is seen only by chance. When the hungry young 
need much food, the old birds—possibly only the male—wander 
from the wood along the hedges and even into suburban gar- 
dens, robbing the nest of any bird they can surprise or over- 
come. In the early morning a noisy Blackbird or still more 
noisy and militant Missel Thrush, will draw one’s attention to 
these attempted or successful robberies, and the then silent Jay 
may be seen hurrying away from the spot; this I have wit- 
nessed in the main roads at Clapham and Streatham. By the 
end of June, the birds disappear from our immediate neigh- 
bourhood, making, apparently, a partial migration with their 
young to the woods and orchards further away; but in Sep- 
tember they return, and remain with us through the winter. 
LEE WVOODPECKERS. 
These, as might be expected, are uncommon so near Lon- 
don. The only species I can claim as resident is the Lesser 
Spotted, and this is becoming every year more rare. Among 
the “accidentals” I have notes, however, of the occurrence of 
the Great Spotted and the Green species. 
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