290 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
to 1878 a pair nested for the three previous years in an old pollard 
poplar in the Green Park. In April, 1877, they were very busy 
there, and the pleasant “coo, coo” of the bird sounded strange 
amongst the din and turmoil of Piccadilly. The constant work 
which was being carried on under these trees in the spring, in 
digging and planting, caused the bird to forsake that particular 
haunt. 
Woopncock, Scolopax rusticola. — Is occasionally found in 
winter in the London parks. In January last a Woodcock was 
seen flying at dusk down the centre of the Serpentine towards 
Kensington Gardens amongst the skaters and sliders, not above 
twenty yards over their heads. 
Common Snipe, Scolopax gallinago.—Many parts of London 
now covered with houses were fifty years ago the haunts of the 
Snipe and the Wild Duck, and there are those still living who 
have shot Snipe and Duck in the five fields now named Belgrave 
Square. Indeed, until the last twenty years, a duck-gun was a 
common weapon in the houses about Battersea and Chelsea. 
Some years since a Snipe was picked up, alive but quite exhausted, 
in the Strand. 
Brown Syipr, Macrorhamphus griseus.—Mr. Harting, in his 
‘Birds of Middlesex,’ states that one of these birds, now in the 
collection of Mr. Bond, was shot some years ago on the banks of 
the Thames, near Battersea, and a second, in his own collection, 
was obtained on the Brent, near Stone Bridge, a very short 
distance from London, in October, 1862. 
Mooruen, Gallinula chloropus.—May be observed at any time 
in the ornamental water of the Regent’s Park and St. James’s 
Park. It has been noticed also in Kensington Gardens and in 
Battersea Park. 
Coot, Fulica atra.—Has occasionally been seen in winter in 
the Regent’s Park and more rarely in Kensington Gardens. 
Grey Puararorr, Phalaropus fulicarius.—Is occasionally 
found on the Thames during the autumn migration. In November, 
1862, a specimen of this bird in winter plumage, as recorded by 
Mr. Harting, was killed on the Thames at Blackwall. 
Wixp Duck, Anas boschas.—All our ornamental waters now 
teem with tame wildfowl, and during the winter many wild birds 
are attracted by seeing their species on the water, acting as 
decoys, but though they may alight for a time in passing over, 
