ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM A SOUTH LONDON SUBURB. 
migrant over my garden, it appears both in early spring and 
autumn, passing invariably to N.E. at the former and S.W. at 
the latter period, generally as single birds, and never more than 
two together; the March movement is far more irregular than 
that of October. In the late autumn of 1903, when the lake 
in Dulwich Park was cleaned, the exposed black mud brought 
together an unusual number of these birds to so suitable a feed- 
ing ground, and this they occupied daily until the operation was 
finished. 
THE PINCH TRIBE: 
Of these, six make their homes in the neighbourhood, 
viz.:—Sparrow, Greenfinch, Chafhnch, Redpoll, Bullfinch, and 
Hawfinch; the nesting of the three last, however, always of 
rare and uncertain occurrence, is especially so at the present 
day. 
SPARROW. 
Although a pilferer and a bully, it is nevertheless a very 
useful bird in early summer, working early and late for insect 
food on behalf of its young ones. The parent birds must 
destroy an incalculable number of aphides and caterpillars that 
affect not only the flowers, bushes, and shrubs, but also those 
to be found on trees of large growth. In Dulwich Wood, in 
the month of May, I have observed half a dozen or more birds 
busy in a single oak top searching for the larve of the de- 
structive green Tortrix. 
Except for the good the Sparrow does while the young 
require insect food, I fear there is little to be said in his favour 
for the rest of the year. As is well known, he nibbles off the 
tips of carnations, nips off the crocuses, and picks holes in 
many other flowers. In -August, when the ants “swarm,” the 
bird becomes an expert fly-catcher, and from every tree and 
almost every branch that commands a view of the slowly-rising 
winged hordes, both old and young are engaged in the capture 
and feasting. 
At times there is in Sparrows a marked antagonism to the 
presence of birds of other species; this is especially notice- 
able in the autumn, and to a less degree in spring. They will 
then chase Starlings, Thrushes, and even the tame Pigeons, 
whilst the wandering Tits and Hedge-sparrows have often a 
very unhappy time of it; the Robin, though, I believe, 1s 
always unmolested. On one occasion a passing Rook was so 
persecuted that it “cawed” angrily; and I once saw a Jay 
undergo a similar experience. 
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