20 BIBDS IN LONDON 



CHAPTER II 



CROWS IN LONDON 



A short general account of the London crows — The magpie — 

 The jay — London ravens — The Enfield ravens — The Hyde 

 Park ravens — The Tower ravens — The carrion crow, rook, 

 and jackdaw. 



There are not many crows in London ; the 

 number of the birds that are left are indeed few, 

 and, if we exclude the magpie and jay, there are 

 only three species. But the magpie and jay 

 cannot be left out altogether, when we find both 

 species still existing at a distance of six and a 

 half to seven miles from Charing Cross. The 

 magpie is all but lost ; at the present time there 

 are no more than four birds inhabiting inner 

 London, doubtless escaped from captivity, and 

 afraid to leave the parks in which they found 

 refuge — those islands of verdure in the midst of 

 a sea, or desert, of houses. One bird, the sur- 

 vivor of a pair, has his home in St. James's Park, 

 and is the most interesting figure in that haunt 



