LONDON'S FEATHERED FOLK 195 



must candidly admit it is much tlie same in the 

 country: when I hear a Skylark sing in the early 

 Spring, I feel constrained, as it were, to look aloft 

 so as to catch a glimpse of the little herald in the 

 blue ether above; but I have noticed times out of 

 number that persons who have chanced to pass 

 within earshot of the bird went on their way with- 

 out paying any attention to Shelley's " Scorner of 

 the Ground." 



As with birds, so with insects, plants, and other 

 inhabitants of the fairyland of living things. Few 

 people seem to realise their presence, and rush 

 on regardless of them. To determine accurately, 

 therefore, the variety of London's feathered popu- 

 lation, it is necessary to cultivate the spirit of 

 observation, and, although some kinds of birds will 

 thrust themselves, as it were, upon one's attention, 

 many must be looked and listened for and care- 

 fully stalked if any amount of success is to be 

 achieved. Who, for example, is acquainted with 

 the fact that in the London parks and open spaces 

 such birds as the Spotted Flycatcher, Nightingale, 

 Cuckoo, Great Crested Grebe, Kingfisher, Wood- 

 pecker, and Nightjar, together with dozens of their 

 more common brethren, are to be observed at some 

 time or other during the year, if the zealous 

 bird-student will only use his eyes and ears to 

 advantage ? 



It is not our intention on the present occasion to 



