BIRDS IN LONDON 



349 



and thrive in high-lying villages which even the sparrows 



avoid, it seems curious that they do not settle in London. 



But they are so fresh and dainty in their plumage, and the 



fashion of their nests, and all their movements and ways, 



that one suspects that they cannot tolerate the London 



grime. Titmice, and especially the great and blue tits, are 



common in many small gardens as well as in the parks. 



Their searching ways make them at home in a small plot, 



while they nest safely in small holes either in trees or 



walls, or even in iron lamp-posts. They are also among the 



easiest birds to feed in winter, 



and grow attached to many 



gardens in this way. The 



see-saw call of the great tit, 



and the blue tit's tinkling 



chime, are sure signs of spring 



in London gardens, and may 



be expected in January or 



early February between the 



songs of the song-thrush and 



blackbird. The little grey cole tit, with his white stripe 



dividing his black cap, is less common in central London 



than towards the outer fringe. 



Besides the birds which are residents or common visitors, 

 it is surprising how many others can be seen from time to 

 time even in the more central districts. The great oppor- 

 tunity for seeing rarities is in the early morning in the parks, 

 especially during the spring and autumn migrations. King- 

 fishers, sandpipers, wheatears, reed warblers, and many other 

 fairly scarce or local species are frequently reported in this 

 way from Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park. As the 

 morning stream of workers begins to pour along the paths, 

 most birds grow scared and pass on, so that they are seldom 



BLUE TIT 



