Xll INTRODUCTION. 



The large reservoirs of Kingsbury and Elstree, 

 and the River Brent and Silk Stream, to say 

 nothing of the Thames, appear to have a special 

 attraction for various species of waders and wild 

 fowl which visit us during the year ; no less than 

 forty-six species of the former and twenty-one of the 

 latter having at different times occurred. Snipe, 

 both the Common and the Jack, are numerous 

 in winter ; occasionally a Woodcock is killed, and, 

 more rarely, a Solitary Snipe (Scolopax major). 

 At this season, too, the Common Wild Duck 

 and Teal are frequent visitants at the reservoirs 

 above-named, as well as in the brooks and quiet 

 ponds which lie out in the fields at a distance from 

 any road. 



The heronries at Osterley Park, in this county, 

 and Wanstead Park in the adjoining county of 

 Essex, send forth many a long-legged visitor, and, 

 in the autumn particularly, this species is common 

 enough. I have seen seven or eight of these birds 

 at one time, fishing within a few yards of each 

 other. When the water of the reservoirs has been 

 drawn off for the service of the Regent's Canal, 

 the herons obtain plenty of food among the shoals 



