178 BIBDS IN LONDON 



very rarely succeed in bringing up their young. 



Birds are nevertheless numerous and in great 



variety: the large space and its openness attract 



them, while all about the Heath large private 



gardens, woods, and preserves exist, which are 



perfect sanctuaries for most small birds and 



some large species. There is a small rookery 



on some elm-trees at the side of the High Street ; 



and another close to the Heath, near Golder's 



Hill, on the late Sir Spencer Wells's property. 



And in other private grounds the carrion crow, 



daw, wood-pigeon, stock-dove, turtle-dove, white 



owl, and wood owl, green and lesser spotted 



woodpecker still breed. The corncrake is 



occasionally heard. The following small birds, 



summer visitors, breed on the Heath or in the 



adjacent private grounds, especially in Lord 



Mansfield's beautiful woods : wryneck and 



cuckoo, grasshopper-, sedge- and reed-warblers, 



blackcap and garden warbler, both whitethroats, 



wood and willow wrens, chifichafF, redstart, 



stonechat, pied wagtail, tree-pipit, red-backed 



shrike, spotted flycatcher, swallow, house martin, 



swift, and goldfinch. Wheatears visit the Heath 



on passage ; fieldfares may be seen on most days 



throughout the winter, and occasionally red- 



