ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES. 
BRIXTON at the present day, constituting as it does part of 
Greater London, would probably not be considered a lhkely 
spot to provide a very large measure of Natural History observa- 
tions,—at any rate on Ornithology. Nevertheless, the greater 
portion of the following records emanates from one garden in 
that suburb—a most fortunate and favoured point of observa- 
tion from the fact that it is in a line of migration, which, if not 
very marked when the birds are arriving in spring, is most pro- 
nounced and unmistakable at the time of the autumn passage. 
The district has, however, altered very greatly during the 
last 30 years— possibly more than any other suburb of the 
Metropolis. What httle waste land existed in 1874 between 
Brixton and Herne Hill is now covered with houses; in fact, 
the two suburbs are continuous, and Herne Hill can no longer 
claim to be in the country. Even Dulwich Hamlet is fast 
losing its old village appearance, though exhibiting the least 
change of any of the neighbouring suburbs, and is still notable 
for its grand old elms. 
The changed character of Brixton and its surroundings 
has had a marked effect on bird life ,—more especially shewn 
in the yearly diminishing record of breeding species; a fact 
very evident in the ten-year summaries had drawn up when 
arranging these notes. But a falling off is observable also 
among the migrants with regard to the number of species 
that appear, although, I think, not in the actual numbers of 
birds that pass over us. Apart from the many migrants, it 
is owing to our local parks and commons and the still-existing 
woods of Dulwich and Sydenham that so many birds are still 
attracted, and that the breeding species are even now fairly 
numerous. Brockwell Park, an old estate containing some fine 
trees and a delightful old garden, formed a great attraction and 
refuge for birds before it was thrown open to the public; and, 
although it doubtless still attracts many species for food or 
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