io London Birds. 



Everyone 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 places 

 before they leave us for the south, and sit in long 

 rows on the church roof, they settle who shall 

 die before they come again. Any one who has 

 offended them during the summer may expect to 

 have his name at least brought forward then for 

 consideration. 



Wheatears are occasionally to be seen. Two small 

 parties settled in London for a few weeks in August 

 a year or two ago one in Hyde Park, the other in 

 the Regent's Park. They are very inquisitive little 

 fellows ; and, though they will whisk off their pretty 

 white tails before one gets very near them, they 

 cannot go far without stopping for another good 

 stare. They are trapped in numbers in parts of 

 England and France, in little holes cut in the turf, 

 and commanded by common brick-falls. No bait is 

 required, as they cannot resist the temptation to hop 

 in to explore, and their next appearance in public is 

 probably in vine leaves. 



The Kingfisher is, perhaps, the last bird one would 

 expect to see in London. Two have been caught 

 at different times in the grounds of the Museum 

 facing Great Russell Street, and a pair, not long 

 ago, made themselves at home for some time near 

 the ponds in Regent's Park. Others have been 

 noticed more than once of late years on the St. 

 James's Park water. 



The country round London is a favourite haunt of 

 Nightingales. They have been known very lately to 

 breed in Battersea Park, and every now and then one 



