BIRD-LIFE IN LONDON. 



(June 3, 1893.) 



THE rooks, after an absence of some years 

 how many we cannot really commit ourselves to 

 say have returned to Kensington Gardens, and 

 established a flourishing little colony of some 

 eleven nests in the trees on the west side of the 

 Broad Walk, between the old Banqueting Hall 

 and the Bayswater Koad. We remember the time 

 when Kensington Gardens could boast of at least 

 three large rookeries ; but in those days Ken- 

 sington itself was little better than a village, and 

 was surrounded on all sides, except to the east, by 

 fields, orchards, 'and market-gardens. In those 

 days alas ! long since passed Kensington was a 

 centre of the bird-catching industry, and a sort of 

 small bird-fair was held in the season in the open 

 space near the parish church. 



The cuckoo, the nightingale, and the blackcap 

 could always be heard in the spring-time upon 

 Camp den Hill, and ff the Gardens" were as much 

 frequented by birds as is Eichmond Park at the 

 present time. Gradually, however, the fields and 

 open spaces were covered, Kensington was joined 

 to Chelsea by streets instead of lanes, and Hammer- 

 smith, Fulham, and Netting Dale became a wilder- 



