242 BIRDS IN LONDON 



people and the incessant noise would drive away 

 the shyer species, and that the birds would be 

 few. This is not the case : the wild bird life is 

 actually far more abundant and varied than in 

 any other inner London park. Mere numbers 

 and noise of people appear to have little effect 

 on birds so long as they are protected. 



Battersea Park has a good position to attract 

 birds passing through or wandering about 

 London, as these are apt to follow the river ; 

 and it also has the advantage of being near the 

 central parks, which, as we have seen, serve as 

 a kind of highway by which birds come into 

 London from the west side. In the park itself 

 the lake and wooded islands, and extensive 

 shrubberies with dense masses of evergreen, 

 tempt them to build. But it must also be said, 

 in justice, that the superintendent of this park 

 fully appreciates the value of the birds, and 

 takes every pains to encourage and protect 

 them. A few years ago, when he came to 

 Battersea, there were about a dozen blackbirds ; 

 now as many as forty have been counted feeding 

 in the early morning on one lawn ; and in spring 

 and summer, at about four o'clock every morning, 

 there is such a concert of thrushes and black- 



