182 BIRDS IN LONDON 



moorhens ; a pair of lively dabchicks, diving, 

 uttering that long, wild, bubbling cry that is 

 so pleasant to hear, and building their floating 

 nest ; and perhaps a sedge-warbler for ever play- 

 ing on that delightful little barrel-organ of his, 

 would give more pleasure than the pair of 

 monotonous mute swans to be seen on some of 

 the ponds, looking very uncomfortable, much too 

 big for such small sheets of water, and altogether 

 out of harmony with their surroundings. 



With the exception of this omission, the 

 management of the Heath by the County 

 Council has so far been worthy of all praise. 

 The trees recently planted will add greatly to 

 the beauty and value of this space, which con- 

 tains open ground enough for all the thousands 

 that visit it in summer to roam about and take 

 their sun-bath. 



Near the Heath, on its east side, in the 

 North London district, we have a group of four 

 highly attractive open spaces. They are ranged 

 in pairs at some distance apart. One pair is 

 Highgate Woods (70 acres) and Churchyard 

 Bottom Wood (52 acres), not yet open to the 

 public ; the second pair is Waterlow Park (26 



