ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM A SOUTH LONDON SUBURB. 
passage, whilst now it is quite the exception to see even one. 
In 1882 a pair nested in the Churchyard of St. Matthew’s, and 
in 1887 and 1894 in a garden in Coldharbour Lane; since then 
I have no evidence of the breeding of the species nearer than 
Dulwich. The autumn “rushes” of these birds when depart- 
ing occur invariably in late August or September; on several 
occasions I have seen quite a dozen at once in Dulwich Park, 
where they stayed probably only a few hours, as they were not 
to be seen the following day. 
WHEATEAR (Non-resident). 
For some years the only specimen | had seen was an 
autumn migrant, on waste ground near Tulse Hill (now built 
over), the date being September 16th, 1887. 
In 1904 and 1905 I came across the species in the spring, 
on Mitcham Common. In the former year—on 6th April— 
there were three birds together, one being a fine male bird of 
the larger race; and on the 26th of the month I found a 
female bird near the same spot. On 31st March, 1905, I met 
a solitary specimen on the Mitcham golf course. A resident 
in that neighbourhood, able to visit the Common daily, would! 
probably find the species a regular visitor. 
WHINCHAT (Non-resident). 
This bird was probably a regular breeding species on Mit- 
cham Common some years ago, but in the years to which these 
notes apply I have never known any to stay on their spring 
journey beyond a few days. The greatly-increased population 
of the district —not to mention the ubiquitous golfers — has. 
destroyed the quiet of what was previously an ideal nesting 
place for these lovers of open country. In 1887 I saw two 
birds on passage, on Clapham Common; and in April, 1888, 
a single bird there. In 1897, one bird on Tooting Common. 
April 18th, 1898, a female bird on the railing round the lake: 
in Dulwich Park. May 12th, 1902—a very wet day —I 
watched a sadly-bedraggled specimen in a garden in Cold- 
harbour Lane. I have not seen one in the district since. 
REDSTART (Non-resident). 
This is quite a casual visitor, and does not breed, I suppose, 
within ten miles of Brixton; the nearest spot in my experience 
being Shirley Woods. The few examples I have seen here 
have all been in the spring. April 25th, 1888, a fine male on 
Tooting Common. April roth, 1897, a female at Tooting 
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