NATATORES. 229 



Husse}^ thinks that 'Hheyare too numerous to have 

 escaped from the Zoological Gardens, and the faci- 

 lities for breeding in the other London waters are 

 very small indeed. Hence it is more than probable 

 that the birds, having perfect wings, are really wild 

 birds." 



While on the subject of London waters and wild 

 fowl, I am tempted to give the following extracts for 

 the amusement of ornithologists in London. 



" St. James' Park was much enlarged and improved 

 by Charles IL, who added several fields to it, and 

 caused it to be planted with lime-trees. He also 

 contracted the water into a canal, 100 feet broad 

 and 2800 long, with a decoy and other ponds for 

 water-fowl. The same monarch had likewise an 

 aviar}^ adjoining to the Bird-cage Walk, thus named 

 from the cages which were hung in the trees."* 



" Charles," says Cibber, " was often here amidst 

 crowds of spectators, feeding his ducks and playing 

 with his dogs, and passing his idle moments in affa- 

 bility even to the meanest of his subjects, which 

 made him to be adored by the common people ; so 

 fascinating in the great are the habits of conde- 

 scension." 



Teal, Anas crecca. Of late years Teal have much 

 decreased in numbers, and, though formerly regular 

 winter visitants, are now very uncertain in their 



* ' London and Middlesex,' by Rev. J. Nightingale. 



