268 BIBDS IN LONDON 



place in winter, and there are numerous 

 rookeries, large and small, in the neighbourhood 

 — at Sheen Gate, at various points along the 

 Kingston road, at Norbiton and Kingston, on the 

 estate of the late Madame Lyne Stevens, at 

 Coombe Woods, and at Wimbledon itself, in 

 some large elms growing at the side of the High 

 Street on Sir Henry Peek's property. Concern- 

 ing this rookery there is an interesting fact to 

 relate. About six years ago the experiment of 

 shooting the young rooks was tried, with the 

 very best intentions, the rookery being greatly 

 prized. But these rooks were not accustomed 

 to be thinned down (for their own good) every 

 summer, and they forsook the trees. Every- 

 thing was then done to entice them back ; arti- 

 ficial nests were constantly kept on the tree-tops, 

 and in winter food in abundance was placed 

 for the birds ; but though they came readily 

 enough to regale on bread and scraps they 

 refused to settle until last spring (1897), when 

 they returned in a body and rebuilt the rookery. 

 This book is mainlj^ about birds, but I can- 

 not help mentioning the fact that in the wood at 

 Wimbledon that rare and interesting mammal, 

 the badger, found at only one other spot on the 



