178 A PHILOSOPHER WITH NATURE 



the turf in the Parks and open spaces in London. 

 There is no bird which goes to work in such business- 

 Uke fashion ; his constant swingings from side to 

 side so as to work the ground on both sides of him, 

 the incessant jerking of his head up and down as 

 he drives his beak inquiringly into the earth, and 

 his motions varied every now and then by a short 

 quick run as he seeks a more favourable spot, all 

 combine to give one the idea that the bird feels he 

 has not got a moment to lose over his work. The 

 starhng breeds in large numbers round London and 

 is said to be on the increase in some neighbourhoods, 

 Chislehurst for instance. He frequents the better 

 class villa-residences a good deal, and likes to build 

 in holes in trees or about houses. He particularly 

 affects a hole in the wall out of reach or a broken 

 roof. Starlings are generally to be seen in the open 

 spaces in London in flocks of three or four birds to 

 a dozen. One January I counted twenty-five birds 

 in a single flock on the turf in Gray's Inn Gardens. 



One of the most interesting birds which stiU 

 figure in London bird hfe is, beyond doubt, the rook. 

 His connexion with London is historic. We are 

 all familiar with Goldsmith's experiences of the rooks 

 which he watched at work on their nests in the 

 Temple Gardens. The rook has however long since 

 forsaken the precincts of the Temple and even 

 living memory cannot now connect him with the 

 place. But it may surprise many Londoners to 

 hear that we have stiU a rookery in the very centre 

 of London, a sight which certainly constitutes one 

 of the greatest curiosities connected with the city. 



Almost within a stone's throw of the heart of 

 London, a little to the east of where Chancery Lane 



