30 BIRDS IN LONDON 



sive a bird has a firmer hold on life in the 

 metropolis than his two relations, the rook and 

 daw ; for these two are sociable in habits and 

 inclined to be domestic, and are everywhere 

 inhabitants of towns. Or, rather, it would be 

 strange but for the fact that the crow is less 

 generally disliked in London than out of it. 



Now, although these our three surviving 

 crows are being left far behind in actual 

 numbers by some other species that have only 

 recently established themselves among us, and 

 are moreover decreasing, and may be wholly 

 lost at no distant date, they have been so long 

 connected with London, and historically, as 

 well as on account of their high intelligence and 

 interesting habits, are so much more to us than 

 the birds of other families, that I am tempted 

 to write at considerable length about them, 

 devoting a separate chapter to each species. I 

 also cherish the hope that their threatened loss 

 may yet be prevented ; doubtless every Londoner 

 will agree that it would be indeed a pity to lose 

 these old residents. 



It is a fact, although perhaps not a quite 

 familiar one, that those who reside in the metro- 

 polis are more interested in and have a kindlier 



