206 BIBDS IN LONDON 



The skylark, starling, and sparrow are the 

 only common resident species. A kestrel hover- 

 ing above the Marsh is a common sight, and 

 lapwings' at certain times of the year are fre- 

 quent visitors. The resident species are indeed 

 few, but there is no spot near London where 

 anything like so great a variety of waders and 

 water-fowl appear during the autumn and spring 

 migrations, and in severe weather in winter. 



There is a great deal of running water in 

 Hackney Marsh, and most of the ground lies 

 between two large currents — the East London 

 Waterworks canal on the west side and the 

 sinuous Eiver Lea on the other side. Midway 

 in its course over the Marsh the river divides, 

 the lesser stream being called Lead Mill Stream ; 

 lower down the currents reunite : thus the land 

 between forms a long, greeii, flat island. On 

 this island stands the White House, Or White 

 House Fishery, close to the bridge over the Lea, 

 a favourite house for anglers in the vanished 

 days when the Lea was a good river to fish in. 

 The anglers have long forsaken it ; but it is a 

 pretty place, standing alone and white on the 

 green level land, surrounded by its few scattered 

 trees, with something of the air about it of a 



