MOVEMENTS OF LONDON BIRDS 137 



way. The pigeons would settle on a branch and 

 then begin moving cautiously towards the points, 

 the branch bending beneath the weight more 

 and more until the bird, unable to keep any longer 

 on the branch, would suddenly turn over and re- 

 main hanging head down, suspended by its cling- 

 ing feet. In this position, by stretching its neck it 

 would be able to reach the berries, which it would 

 then leisurely devour. As many as four or five 

 birds were seen at one time hanging in this way, 

 appearing with wings half-open like dead or 

 wounded birds tied by their feet to the branch- 

 lets, from which they were suspended. Since 

 witnessing this curious scene I have been told 

 by Mr. Coppin, the superintendent at Battersea 

 Park, that he has seen the wood-pigeons at that 

 place acting in the same way. It is probably a 

 habit of the birds which has hitherto escaped 

 notice. 



The dabchicks leave London in the autumn 

 and return in spring : they may be looked for 

 in the ornamental waters as early as the third 

 week in March. The moorhens formerly dis- 

 appeared from London in winter ; they are now 

 residents throughout the year in a few of the 



