ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM A SOUTH LONDON SUBURB. 
the migrants, however, it is different, and my own garden at 
Brixton still holds the first place in furnishing me with abund- 
ant observations, by reason both of the quantity of such birds 
and the variety of species which cross it. 
In accounting for the fact that the migrant species observed 
from my garden form so large a number (83) of the birds to 
be presently specified, a reasonable explanation seems as 
follows :— 
It is, I believe, generally accepted that migrating flocks 
on reaching our East coast cross the country for the most part 
along the course of the rivers; and, judging by the great flights 
—the wind being favourable—I see at Brixton, it would appear 
that my position is one in the line taken by birds that reach 
the Kentish coast to the South of the Thames mouth, and that 
these travellers follow the course of the river, and thus pass 
over this south-western suburb, just South of the Metropolis ; 
in no other way can I account for the numbers that are some- 
times seen. Many, doubtless, cross London itself unhindered 
by the noise and traffic, and I have, in fact, on a few occasions 
seen flocks of Chaffinches passing in the neighbourhood of 
London Bridge; the mass, however, I am inclined to think 
avoid the Metropolis. 
Some details of this westerly passage over Brixton will be 
given at the end among the notes on migration generally; but 
before proceeding to enumerate the various species seen here, 
I will endeavour to give some idea of this migratory movement 
when a great passage 1s in progress. 
Given a fair morning, between the second week and end 
of October, following one or two days of W.N.W. wind—stili 
holding from the same quarter—the passage of birds from about 
7.30 to 10.30 a.m. is remarkable. Flock after flock crosses my 
garden with steady flight, and apparently the fixed purpose 1s 
to get as far West as they can whilst the wind continues fav 
ourable. When this wind is of a light character, and the sky 
clear, the birds will be about 30 or 40 yards up, but on a duli 
morning with blustering wind they come low, just over the trees 
and house-tops; even then their steady progress will be just as 
marked as on a fine, calm morning. The flocks vary greatly 
in size, from half a dozen to fifty and upwards, and in times of 
fog they pass above it, and, of course, are then only traceable 
by their notes. 
Of these hosts, Chaffinches exceed all the other species 
put together. Next to them in numbers come Larks, closely 
followed by Starlings. The Corvi, chiefly Rooks, are, I think, 
next best represented, and after them I should reckon Green- 
finches and Bramblings as most abundant, the latter, thougn, 
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