SURVEY OF THE PARKS: WEST LONDON 167 



told that they knew nothing about an owl, but 

 that a cockatoo had mysteriously appeared every 

 evening at dusk on one of the trees near the 

 under-ranger's lodge ! After a few weeks it was 

 seen no more. I fancy that this owl had been 

 expelled from the gardens by its parents. 



Directly in line with the central and Holland 

 parks, about a mile and a quarter west of Hol- 

 land Park, we have Eavenscourt Park — the last 

 hnk of a broken chain. To the birds that come 

 and go it occupies the position of a half-way 

 house between the central parks and the country 

 proper. Unhappily West Kensington, which 

 lies between Holland and Eavenscourt Parks, is 

 now quite covered with houses — a brand-new 

 yet depressing wilderness of red brick, without 

 squares, gardens, boulevards, or breathing spaces 

 of any description whatsoever. Away on the 

 right hand and on the left a few small green 

 spaces are found — on one hand Shepherd's Bush 

 Green, and on the other Brook Green, St. Paul's 

 Schools ornamental grounds, and Hammersmith 

 Cemetery and Cricket Ground. But from West 

 Kensington it is far for children's feet to a spot 

 of green turf. 



