284 BIRDS AND MAN' 



on crumbs and scraps. They fed there constantly 

 during the breeding season, then disappeared for 

 a space of some weeks ; in November they were 

 back again, and came every day to feed at that 

 lofty table which i;s always spread for them, and 

 where they are joined by a couple of wood- 

 pigeons, a crowd of sparrows, and at odd times 

 by some small migrating bird of unknown species 

 — a stranger in London. But of all the guests the 

 glossy, spangled, whistling, chattering starlings 

 are most welcome ; and being now grown very 

 tame and bold are watched by their entertainers 

 with ever fresh interest and pleasure. 



Of those shy strangers, the accidental or casual 

 visitors, that come to us like silvery thistledown, 

 blown by winds to London from we know not 

 what weedy wayside and waste land in the distant 

 country, nothing need be said here. Of the 

 small migrants that annually penetrate to the 

 parks and gardens of inner London, and remain 

 to breed, we have this year had the blackcap, 

 lesser whitethroat, reed and sedge warblers, 

 spotted fly-catcher, swallows, and cuckoo. Some 

 of these are excessively rare. The swallows, 

 present everywhere on the outskirts of the 



