222 BIBDS IN LONDON 



perhaps other species. It may be added that 

 the cost of making and maintaining a small 

 pond is less than that of the gardens that 

 are now being made at Kennington Park, 

 and that the spectacle of a couple of moorhens 

 occupied with their domestic affairs in their 

 little rushy house is infinitely more interesting 

 than a bed of flowers to those who seek refresh- 

 ment in our open spaces. 



From these small spots of verdure in the 

 densely-populated portion of South-east London 

 we must now pass to the larger open spaces in 

 the outer more rural parts of that extensive 

 district. The more convenient plan will be to 

 describe those in the east part first — Greenwich, 

 Blackheath, and eastwards to Bostell Woods 

 and Heath ; then, leaving the river, to go the 

 round of the outer open spaces that lie west of 

 Woolwich. 



Greenwich Park and Blackheath together 

 contain 452 acres ; but although side by side, 

 with only a wall and gate to divide them, they 

 are utterly unlike in character, the so-called 

 heath being nothing but a large green space 

 used as a recreation ground, where birds settle 



