BIEDS IN LONDON 



CHAPTEE I 



THE BIRDS AND THE BOOK 



A handbook of London birds considered — Beasons for not 

 writing it — Changes in the character of the wild bird 

 population, and supposed cause — The London sparrow — Its 

 abundance — Bread-begging habits — Monotony — Its best 

 appearance — Beautiful finches — Value of open spaces — The 

 sparrows' afternoon tea in Hyde Park — Purpose of this book. 



Among the many little schemes and more or 

 less good intentions which have flitted about my 

 brain like summer flies in a room, there was one 

 for a small volume on London birds ; to contain, 

 for principal matter, lists of the species resident 

 throughout the year, of the visitants, regular 

 and occasional, and of the vanished species 

 which have inhabited the metropolis in recent, 

 former, or historical times. For everyone, even 

 the veriest Dryasdust among us, has some glow 

 of poetic feeling in him, some lingering regret 



