98 BIEDS IN LONDON 



and autumn travels ; and in 1870, when there 

 was a visitation on a large scale, as many as one 

 hundred little grebes were seen at one time on 

 the Round Pond in Kensington Gardens. But 

 it was not until long afterwards, about fifteen 

 years ago, that the first pair had the boldness 

 to stay and breed in one of the park lakes, 

 in sight of many people coming and going 

 every day and all day long. This was at St. 

 James's Park, and from this centre the bird 

 has extended his range from year to year to 

 other parks and spaces, and is now as well 

 established as the ringdove and moorhen. But, 

 unlike the others, he is a summer visitor, coming 

 in March and April, and going, no man knows 

 whither, in October and November. If he were 

 to remain, a long severe frost might prove fatal 

 to the whole colony. He lives on little fishes 

 and water insects, and must have open water 

 to fish in. 



He is not a showy bird, nor large, being less 

 than the teal in size, and indeed is known to 

 comparatively few persons. Nevertheless he is 

 a welcome addition to our wild bird life, and 

 is, to those who know him, a wonderfully 

 interesting little creature, clothed in a dense 



