THE FERAE NATURE OF THE LONDON PARKS. 
169 
to carry off the offal from the streets of London, and build 
their nests in Hyde Park and in the clumps of trees in Hray’s 
Inn, one of these birds was observed no longer ago than 1859 
passing over Piccadilly.* * * § Almost the only birds of prey still to be 
seen occasionally about London are sparrow-hawks and kestrels. 
The former are sometimes taken in the act of dashing at cage- 
birds when hung up near a window, three or four such instances 
having come to the writer’s knowledge. In April 1871 a pair 
of kestrels had a nest in the cable attached to the anchor of the 
naval hero on the summit of the column in Trafalgar Square. 
We have more than once observed a peregrine falcon passing 
over London, where, there is reason to believe, these birds 
occasionally make a temporary stay, frequenting the church- 
tops and roofs of public buildings, attracted no doubt by the 
pigeons, which furnish them with many a meal. A pair for 
many years frequented the top of St. Paul’s, where it was sup- 
posed they had a nest. When the royal hawks were kept at 
the Mews, at Charing Cross, the 66 eyess ” falcons were probably 
44 flown at hack ” in Hyde Park, but on this point no contem- 
porary writer gives any information.! 
Aubrey gives an anecdote related to him by Sir Edward 
Sherborne, of a sparrow-hawk belonging to Charles the Second. 
44 Not long before the death of that king,” he says, “ a sparrow- 
hawk escaped from the perch, and pitched on one of the iron 
crowns of the White Tower, and entangling its leash in the 
crown, hung by the heels and died. Not long after, another 
hawk pitched on one of the crowns.” This anecdote is given 
under the head of 44 Omens.” X 
Perhaps the most ancient birds now in London are the rooks, 
numerous colonies of which exist, not only in the parks, but in 
other open spaces, and even in the gardens of private houses. 
The history of these rookeries has lately been furnished in a 
very entertaining article by Dr. Edward Hamilton, § since 
which some additional details have been published by Professor 
Newton. 1 1 
The history of the rookery in the Temple Hardens is rather 
curious. It is said to have been founded in Queen Anne’s time 
* See “ The Zoologist,” 1859, p. 6676. 
t The royal hawks were kept at Charing Cross during many reigns (accord- 
ing to Stow, from the time of Richard II., in 1377), hut they were removed 
by Henry VHI., who converted the Mews into stables. The name, how- 
ever, confirmed by the usage of so long a period, remained to the building, 
although after the hawks were withdrawn it became inapplicable. But 
what is more curious, in more modern times, when the people of London 
began to build ranges of stabling at the back of their streets and houses, 
they christened those places “mews,” after the old stabling at Charing Cross. 
X Aubrey’s “Miscellanies,” 1696. (Ed. 1784, p. 59.) 
§ See « The Zoologist,” 1878, pp. 193-199. 
|| “ The Zoologist,” 1878, pp. 441-4 4 4 ; and Yarrell’s “ History of British 
Birds ” (4th ed.), vol. ii. p. 290. 
