ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM A SOUTH LONDON SUBURB 
need be no reason for deeming it scarce. However, in no part 
of the country have I ever found it common. The earliest 
note I have of its song is February 25th, 190!. 
RINGDOVE. 
Resident in considerable numbers in Dulwich Wood, and 
in Brockwell and Dulwich Parks, and even in Brixton Road 
and Coldharbour Lane there have been nests within the last 
few years. The bird has been much more plentiful here since 
it became a London resident—as may be witnessed in all the 
Parks—about 25 years ago, and the local increase in numbers 
has been especially mar ked during the last 10 years. I have 
frequently observed one cooing from the roof of my house—a 
strange tameness for a species sO wary as it 1s in the country, 
and yet still more wonderful is the absolute fearlessness of the 
birds in some of the London Parks. 
The first “coo” may be heard in January, if mild, but 
more usually about mid-February, and from then onwards 
throughout the summer into early autumn — the latest = {coos 
I have noted being October 3rd. The “soar and flap” per- 
formance is, I think, only exhibited by the male during the 
time of incubation, beginning usually about the middle or end 
of March; but I have ‘noted it on one occasion as early as 30th 
January. At the time of pairing, the male birds will fight 
fiercely, and many feathers are frequently lost in these en- 
counters. 
PHEASANT. 
Dulwich Wood still harbours a few residents—for one or 
more may be heard crowing there every year from April on- 
wards, although the birds are seldom seen On Bath July, 
1901, | chanced upon a hen bird with three very young ones 
threading their way silently through the thick ground herbage 
in Dulwich Wood. 
MOORHEN. 
This bird breeds on all the ponds and lakes in the neigh- 
; ae 
bouring Parks, although in greatly diminshed numbers in Dul- 
wich Park since the introduction of boating. Previous to that 
unfortunate (from a Naturalist’s point of view) event, the birds 
used to become charmingly tame, coming at once to be fed on 
hearing an imitation of their call, and even bringing with them 
their young when only a few weeks old. 
on 
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