210 BIEDS IN LONDON 



Marsh ; whereupon the late Mr. George Beresford 

 took down his gun, went out, and secured the 

 wanderer. 



It may be seen on the map of London that 

 Hackney Marsh lies in that broad belt of low 

 wet ground which forms the valley of the Lea, 

 and cuts obliquely through North-east and East 

 London to the Thames at Bugsby's Eeach, as 

 that part of the river between Woolwich and 

 the Isle of Dogs is beautifully named. Ley ton 

 Marsh, Hackney Marsh, Stratford Marsh, West 

 Ham Abbey Marsh, and Bromley Marsh are all 

 portions of this low strip, over and beyond 

 which London has spread. This marshy valley 

 is not wholly built over ; it contains a great deal 

 of mud and water, and open spaces more or 

 less green ; but on account of the number of 

 factories, gasworks, and noisy industries of 

 various kinds, and of its foul and smoky con- 

 dition, it is not a home for wild bird life. 



Some distance beyond or east of this marshy 

 belt seven miles east of St. Paul's in the City- 

 there is Wanstead Park, or Wanstead Old Park, 

 and this is the last and outermost public open 

 space and habitation of wild birds belonging 



