126 BY THE WATERSIDE ONCE MORE 
five other nests, certainly very uncommon 
only some eight miles from the centre of 
London, viz., those of (1) the pochard, (2) 
carrion crow, (3) coot, (4) wigeon and (5) 
full snipe. Not a hundred yards from the 
spot is a public road. It is carefully fenced 
off, but it is somewhat astonishing, never- 
theless, that these birds, especially the very 
nervous grebe, were not frightened away by 
the traffic, which includes occasional motor 
cars. And further, skirting these waters on 
two sides about half a mile from the spot, 
are lines of railway, with, of course, regular 
and frequent trains, whilst on a third side 
football and cricket cause a _ disturbance 
throughout the year, and there are also 
innumerable rows of houses round about. 
The whole place is enclosed. Doubtless any 
water-loving bird on migration by night or 
day, though flying miles away from London, 
would have its attention drawn by the reflec- 
tionsof the many acres of water, besides being 
attracted to it intuitively by its inborn 
sense. And finding the place quiet, without 
