LONDON BIRDS 15 



in most parts of England, excepting during unusually 

 severe winters. The bird, a male, was in fine plumage, 

 and, judging by the brightness of its fawn colours and 

 whites, could not have been long in London. 



Chaffinches are not uncommon. A pair were to be 

 seen more than once in April, a year or two ago, very 

 busy collecting moss for a nest, between Victoria Gate 

 and the fountains; and two rather dingy little Blue- 

 Tits were at the same time carefully investigating the 

 trees close by, evidently with the same views. Cole- 

 Tits, too, occasionally show themselves in the Gardens. 

 Both the Cole-Tits and Blue-Tits, the latter in con- 

 siderable quantities, have been caught in Russell 

 Square. Greenfinches and Redpolls have also been 

 noticed there. 



House-Martins in plenty, and with them Swallows, 

 and more rarely Swifts and the little brown Sand- 

 Martins, play on the ornamental waters. The House- 

 Martins build in several parts of London. There were 

 nests the marks were still to be seen until the last 

 house-painting two of them in St. James's Street, over 

 Boss's, the gunmaker's shop, two more in Porchester 

 Place, and three on a blank wall in Upper Seymour 

 Street. ' Where they most breed and haunt, the air is 

 delicate,' and their mud-houses are a compliment to 

 our improved drainage. 



Every one knows that it is unlucky to disturb a 

 Swallow's nest, but the reason why may not be so 

 generally known. Old women in Norfolk say that 

 when the birds gather in thousands, as they do in many 



