314 BIRDS IN LONDON 



The stock-dove could easily be introduced 

 into London by placing its eggs, which can be 

 obtained at a trifling cost, under both the 

 domestic pigeon and wood-pigeon. It may be 

 that the wood-pigeon would also prove a suitable 

 foster-parent to the turtle-dove. This species is 

 a strict migrant, but if bred in the parks it would 

 no doubt come back annually from its journeys 

 abroad. In any case the experiment is well 

 worth trying. 



Before going on to the small birds which 



may be introduced or encouraged to settle, 



something need be said about the ornamental 



water-fowl of the parks, which might be made 



more than they are to us, and put to a new use. 



There is no doubt that just as one daw attracts 



other daws so do these water-birds attract 



any of their wild relations which may be 



passing at night. Mallards, widgeon, and teal, 



supposed to be wild birds, have been known to 



appear in some of the parks to pair with the 



park birds and . remain to breed ; in a few 



instances some of these strangers have actually 



been captured by the keepers and pinioned to 



prevent them from leaving. This was a great 



