ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM A SOUTH LONDON SUBURB. 
temporary rest, only a comparative few now make it a home. 
Even the long-established Rookery has been broken up within 
the last few years, and now the Thrush tribe alone seems to 
flourish there in its former numbers, together with some Finches 
and Tits. 
Dulwich Park, with its shrubberies, fine trees, and above all 
its large lake and well-wooded island, has greater attractions 
for bird life than Brockwell, and is—or rather was—a safer and 
quieter refuge. Was, I say, for until the rowing boats were 
placed on the lake in 1904, we had, owing to its quiet sheltered 
position and attractive island, a tempting restmg-place for the 
passing or wearied migrant. So much was this the case, that 
I have seen on and about this comparatively small sheet of 
water, 7 species not observed elsewhere in the district. In one 
day in October, 1898, there were 5 Scaups and 4 Shovellers on 
the lake, and the Tufted Duck nested on the island for 3 or 
4 years. Moreover, in spring and autumn the Common Sand- 
piper was a regular visitor, and the Kingfisher not uncommon 
at the latter season. The Dabchick, too, appeared both in 
spring and autumn, and the Moorhens could be tamed to feed 
almost at one’s feet. The latter are now as wild as the wildest, 
and I have seen few Wild Duck—2 or 3 Mallard only, and 
one solitary Tufted—since the advent of the boats. These 
facilities for boating have been only too well appreciated py 
the public, some beginning this exercise as early as 6 o’clock. 
and the saddened bird-lover has now little chance of even an 
early morning note of extra interest. 
Besides the above-mentioned Parks, those at Battersea and 
St. James’ have furnished me with a few records, and, in addi 
tion to the commons of Clapham, Tooting and Streatham, | 
have included some few notes from the more distant one of 
Mitcham, although it is not quite fairly in the district. All 
these have, however, like the Parks, suffered ornithological loss 
of late years by reason of the great advance of building around, 
and consequent increase of population; so that no one of these 
areas now possesses the necessary quiet to induce birds to settle 
and still less to stay and breed. Mitcham Common, that up 
to ten years ago not only attracted, but held many nesting 
species, is over-run with golfers and others; and, although 
many birds are attracted, few now stay for breeding purposes 
and many others rest there only for a few hours. ) 
In the following pages it will be observed that the major 
portion of the records of breeding species has been made in 
Dulwich Wood and its surroundings, and at the present time 
this district is practically the only source of such notes. With 
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