24 
NATURE NOTES. 
need. In the parks there is ample room to allow for the crea- 
tion of sanctuaries, which, whilst in no way interfering with 
the people’s pleasure, would really add to their enjoyment, and 
considerably augment the attractiveness of the general sur- 
roundings. It is true that a few months since, a prominent 
labour representative in the London County Council opposed 
the erection of a small deer pen in Victoria Park, on the ground 
that it would interrupt the playing of games, to which he urged 
the whole area should be allotted. In reply to such an argument, 
if one be required at all, it may be said that there are many in 
the community who do not participate in athletic sports, and on 
Sundays, the only days on which the weary toilers are at leisure, 
such sports are not permitted. Let it be clearly understood that 
nothing is proposed which would interfere with either cricket or 
football, but that it is simply desired to take advantage of quiet, 
out-of-the-way spots which at present are made little use of. In 
such like situations, it is suggested that here and there — say, in 
three or four places in each park, according to its size — circular 
spaces of about an acre in extent should be enclosed with a 
slight, small-meshed wire, unclimbable fence to exclude all 
animals, cats especially being most destructive. In the centre, 
after allowing an outer broad margin of grass to afford facilities 
for observation, a coppice should be formed and thickly planted 
with shrubs and trees which the birds love ; more particularly 
those of the oak, ash, beech, hornbeam, hawthorn, hazel, any 
box, with conifers, furze, and evergreens. These must be 
allowed to grow wild and remain undisturbed ; absolute privacy 
being the great desideratum. Within the coppice, entirely 
hidden from view, there should stand a sanctum sanctorum, con- 
sisting of a rough framework holding together a pile of faggots 
stacked transversely, with hay worked in the interstices, over 
which ivy might be trained, and having a sloping thatched roof ; 
the structure being about twelve feet square, and forming in 
the summer a nesting place, and in the winter a haven of refuge. 
In addition a small pond, having an edging of reeds, rushes and 
withies, would be a desirable adjunct. The proposition alto- 
gether may on first consideration be deemed what our American 
cousins term “ a large order,” but in reality involves but an 
insignificant expense. Of course, at times of frost it would be 
requisite to supply suitable food, starvation being a more dreaded 
enemy than extreme cold. 
No pretension of novelty is advanced for the main suggestion 
made, the idea having already been adopted in other countries 
with a considerable amount of success. On several occasions of 
late, the want of something of the kind in London has been 
mooted, but as yet without result ; and it is with the hope of 
getting the matter practically taken up that it is now brought 
forward. The County Council has expressed a willingness to 
assist in kindred objects, and the Commissioners of Woods and 
Forests have not been behind-hand in the Royal parks. The 
