former having webbed feet and a duck-like head ; while its 

 diving propensities will form an unerring guide to its identity. 



Moorhens have increased much of late, from sixteen to 

 twenty being frequently visible at the same time. A pair of 

 teal (Anas crecca) have more than once visited the pond in 

 the early morning, but always make off with the appearance 

 of visitors. This also applies to the wild duck. 



Both the Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) and the Sparrow 

 Hawk (Accipiter nisns) may occasionally be seen in the Park — 

 the former frequently in- the old oaks in the deer-park — but 

 neither has nested, so far as I am aware. 



The common owl (Strix flammea) breeds annually in the 

 Park, and in the early morning a pair may frequently be 

 seen in the old elm-trees between the Royal Observatory and 

 Hospital. It is interesting that this owl has nested in three 

 different parts of the Park during the past four years, and I 

 am glad to say the young have been successfully reared. 

 Only once have I seen the tawny owl (Syrnium stridula). 



Jackdaws (Corvus monedula) are very common, and breed 

 in the deer-park ; and this also applies to the wood-pigeon 

 and ring-necked pigeon and ringdove, all of which during the 

 spring and summer are frequently to be met with. The 

 rock-pigeon (C. levis), which Darwin mentioned as the parent 

 of all our domesticated forms, frequently comes to the Park ; 

 but Mr. Dresser thinks it very unlikely that it would breed 

 there. Rarely have I seen the nightjar, or goat-sucker 

 (Caprimnlgus Europceus) ; but once I watched it for a 

 considerable time hunting for moths in the tree nursery. 

 With the introduction of hemp as an ornamental plant, the 

 number of green-finches (Coccoth rauskis chloris) has greatly 

 increased, the seed being a favourite food of these birds. 



The goldfinch, bullfinch, siskin, house and tree-sparrow, 

 chaffinch, and redpoll have all frequently been noted — some 

 rarely, and others, as the sparrow and chaffinch, frequently. 

 Three or four specimens of the Crossbill {Loxia curvirostra) , 

 in which the mandibles of the bill are crossed for ease in 

 extracting the Pine seeds, I have seen ; but their favourite 

 food being scarce will no doubt account for the shortness of 

 their visits. The Nuthatch (Sitta Europcea) although difficult 

 to see, owing to its shunning the company of other birds, is 

 quite common, and has bred in my garden. 



