88 HAMPSTEAD HILL. 



to meet the fate which invariably threatens all brightly-plumaged 

 birds. 



From the proximity of the Hampstead and Highgate woods 

 numbers of small birds find their way into the gardens, at first 

 visiting those on the outskirts of the town, and gradually pushing 

 on as far as any vegetation appears to attract them, until the 

 smoke-begrimed trees and the absence of insect life begin to warn 

 them against further advance. 



In the winter Fieldfares and Redwings appear in the garden 

 trees and join the ranks of the resident Thrushes upon the lawns 

 at daybreak, the Redwing being often mistaken for the Song 

 Thrush by those whose eyes are unaccustomed to note the 

 distinguishing characteristics of birds. Amongst the rarer winter 

 visitors may be mentioned the Crossbill, which has several times 

 been met with at Hampstead, usually during frost, frequenting the 

 fir-trees to extract the seeds from the cones. Twenty years ago 

 it was no uncommon thing to find both Snipe and Jack Snipe on 

 the lower part of the Heath in winter, and such is their affection 

 for old haunts that it would not surprise us even now to meet with 

 one at daybreak on the ground they used to frequent. It would 

 be useless to look for these and many other species there during 

 the day, but they may still drop down as of yore in the twilight, 

 and after resting all night and feeding in the morning betake 

 themselves to quieter or less disturbed haunts. 



In the following list an attempt has been made to give some 

 idea of the great variety of bird life which may be noted in the 

 neighbourhood of Hampstead, not, of course, in a single day, but 

 by observation during the year, by those who are sufficiently ac- 

 quainted with birds to detect them by their note, flight, or peculiar 

 movements when on the ground, or amongst the trees. For this 

 purpose it is desirable to distinguish those which are more or less 

 resident throughout the year from those which are periodical visi- 



