PROTECTION OF BIRDS IN THE PARKS 273 



and have greatly increased namely, the ring- 

 dove, moorhen, and dabchick. 



6. During the season when birds migrate, 

 or shift their quarters, many birds of various 

 species drift into or pass through London : of 

 these some that are summer visitors bred 

 regularly in London up to within a few years 

 ago. Of all these visitors it may be said that 

 they have been decreasing for several years 

 past, and some of them no longer attempt to 

 breed in the inner London parks. At the same 

 time, in a few favoured localities these visitors 

 do not show any falling off, and in one or two 

 of the open spaces they may be actually 



increasing. 



To sum up. For many years there have 

 been constant changes going on in the bird 

 population, many species decreasing, a very few 

 remaining stationary, and a few new colonists 

 appearing ; out, generally speaking, the losses 

 greatly exceed the gains. 



One incidental result of all these changes, 

 and of the variety of conditions existing and the 

 different degrees of protection given, is that 

 some of the open spaces are now distinguished 

 by the possession of species which are found 



T 



