BIRDS IN LONDON 345 



from some northerly quarter. Hundreds of birds vanish 



among the carved foliage of the capital ; but only a small 



number leave this cold and windy height, and seek a shelter 



more in accordance with their usual habits in the thickets on 



the island in St. James's Park, which is another of their 



favourite roosting-places. 



By the time that the sky 



is dark, and the glare of 



lights rises from the streets 



beneath, the movement of 



the flocks has ceased ; and 



to all appearance the great 



majority of the birds spend 



the night in this lofty 



watch-tower. 



Many people who know 

 birds well in the country 

 are astonished at the com- 

 monness of the carrion 

 crow in the whole London 

 area. It has an air of 

 wildness which seems to 

 make it unsuitable for 

 London life ; but in reality 

 its habits are better 



adapted to life in towns and suburban market-gardens 

 where there is no game and few lambs or poultry, than to the 

 modern countryside. In many rural regions the carrion crow 

 is now practically extinct. These are the districts where 

 game-preserving is strictest. There is no such intelligent 

 and ruthless enemy of the eggs and young of most other 

 species of birds as the ' corbie ' ; and his habit of attacking 

 young or weakly lambs makes him as well hated by the 



