ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM A SOUTH LONDON SUBURB. 
the oth. Twice only have | heard the bird singing in January 
—in 18096, as early as the 2nd; and, strange to say, in good 
voice, for the first utterances are as a rule short and imperfect. 
Only exceptionally is the song continued into July; in fact, 
the majority of birds are silent after the first week in June, and 
the August trial song of the young males is not so often heard 
as among the young Thrushes. 
The actual arrival of foreign birds in autumn is not often 
witnessed, but the presence of strangers in the parks and gar- 
dens at the end of September and in October is always evident, 
these being, I believe, invariably black-billed birds. Several 
varieties have come under my notice here, those with a few 
white feathers in head or neck being not uncommon, but a 
very pretty specimen having a symmetrical greymantle over the 
shoulders appeared in Dulwich Park in 1892. In 1909 a white 
headed bird was several times observed about Loughborough 
Park. 
THE WNSECTARATERS: 
Of this group there are five residents: — Robin, Hedge- 
sparrow, Wren, Meadow Pipit, and Pied Wag-tail. 
ROBIN. 
The Robin is abundant everywhere, and particularly so in 
Dulwich Wood, which is a favourite breeding place; in August 
the young birds swarm there, and are the chief tenants of the 
then almost deserted wood. 
It is not a common bird in the suburban gardens in sum- 
mer, and nests in them very sparingly, but by the end of August 
a few come to the gardens for their winter residence ; it is then 
that the song is so noticeable, and is apparently in connection 
with the strife that occurs among these birds in settling the 
area of their winter quarters, concerning which they are very 
jealous. This matter settled, the fightings and challenging 
songs become much less frequent. The Robin is one of the 
few species that sing all the year round. 
HEDGE-SPARROW. 
The Hedge-sparrow occurs in about the usual numbers. 
The song is first heard in January—average date, the 27th— 
and is continued up to June; often to be resumed in October, 
though not invariably. There is a marked advent of these 
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