ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM A SOUTH LONDON SUBURB. 
only five occasions, two of these in spring. On Oth May, 1882, 
I saw a very tame pair on waste ground near Camberwell. 
Between 1885 and 1895 it was seen four times on passage, 
only one of these being in spring. Since 1895 I have only 
seen four examples—twice in spring viz, May 14th, 1897 
one by the water side on Totting Connnom. and on April 
25th, 1900, two passed overhead when in Dulwich Park. This 
year—190g—one passed me in Dulwich, September oth, going 
S.W. 
RED-BREASTED PIPIT (Accidental). 
On March 25th, 1897, I came across a pair of these birds 
on Tooting Common. They were very tame, and allowed so 
near an approach that the reddish breast and bright plumage 
were plainly visible through an opera glass. 
WHITE WAG-TAIL (Accidental). 
An unexpected record for the district. On May 8th, 1904, 
I watched a very bright and well-marked male specimen by 
the side of the lake in Dulwich Park. It was under observa- 
tion for some length of time, and fearlessly allowed me to 
watch it feeding at close quarters. 
SWALLOW (Resident). 
These I have never known to nest nearer than Streatham 
and Dulwich. In both places, two or three pairs still remain 
to breed, as they did 30 years ago; and therefore it is that a 
few birds are to be seen hawking over the park lakes, or 
skimming the neighbouring meadows all the summer through. 
April 12th is my earliest note of arrival; the usual date being 
about the 18th. 
The first migrants are usually single or in pairs, and pass 
W. or N.W. — chiefly the latter — almost directly against the 
prevailing wind; but larger parties are to be observed in the 
later migration during the second and third weeks of May. 
This belated passage “has been very remarkable on two occa- 
sions, viz.:— 1891, when more than half the migrants that 
crossed Brixton did so during the last week in May; and ; 
was still more exceptional in 1901, when parties of these birds 
passed over my garden daily from the 13th to the 1oth of 
June! With the power of wing possessed by these birds, a 
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