The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-07-13
COCKNEY BIRDS.
Interesting Visits to London by the
 VenturSOrne

, Interesting Visits to London by the Venturson1e. A few years ago the sparrowh and
 the pigeons shared London between
 them A few thrushes and blackbirds,
 a robin and a starling or two were all
 most their only rivals
 larger every year, the better guarding
 of the parks and more stringent en- forcement of the laws protecting wild
 birds have worked change for the better.
 Last year there were two authentica-
 ted instances of the cuckoo not nesting
 for the cuckoo never does that--but
 laying its eggs within the limits of London county
 C. J. Cornish saw young cuckoo in a sedge warbler's nest on Cheswick Eyot last spring. He watched with a glass the unlucky foster parents stuff fing food into the maw of their big and hungry charge, which, he says, would at times screech at the rate of one hun dred screeches minute, with such an effect on the nerves of other birds that even a passing sparrow would stop, pick up food and fly into the bush as if to feed it.
 Also, in Highgate cemetery young cuckoo was seen in May last in the nest of a hedge sparrow, and the finder writes that it is not the first instance of a cuckoo being matched in the same place.
 The wood pigeon is generally looked on as a shy woodland bird. At any rate, in the country it rarely nests any where near house. Yet for the last six years in succession pair of these birds have reared young family in the very heart of London. The nest has been in a tree in the churchyard of St. Mary the Virgin, Aider1nanbury, and the energy of the old birds in feeding their nestlings has been source of delight to many passers-by.
 Last year there was also wood pig eon's nest in the churchyard of St. Lawrence Pountney, Cannon street. This was noticed by the Rev. Edgar Goss, who considers they are migrants from the London parks, where wood pi- geons now nest in considerable num- bers.
 Even the owl is not unknown in Lon- don. The wife of a resident in Peck ham Rye was startled one day last summer by a big tawny owl fiuttering beneath cherry tree in the garden. It appears to have had its home in the tower of a neighboring church, but to have been disturbed by some altera- tions which were going on.
 Battersea Park is finer place to see wild birds than many country copse. It may be that they come to call upon the caged birds there, and, finding food and protection stay on. Chaff1nches nest there. The kingflsher Is an old resident, and last year bullfinch was actually seen. Cherry bluetits fit from tree to tree. But these birds do not build in London.
 Kew Gardens is the finest place in for bird life. Nearly fifty spe- cies breed there. Such rare birds as the blackcap and the nuthatch nest in the peaceful trees. The clear blue eggs of the redstart have been found in a hollow trunk, and the cheeky little gold | crested wren has built her pendulous | nest from the tips of a confer. Chiff- | ,haffs, wagtails and green woodpeckers | are not uncommon, and such rare visi- | tors as the hawfinch nightar and kes- .rel are on record. Hawfinches, by the oye, are more common in Epping For sst, ten miles from London's heart, l han almost anywhere else in England. |
 Perhaps the rarest of any bird that | ever visits London was one which a of "The Field" saw in Hyde Park last November 13 at about our o'clock in the afternoon-no less han a woodcock, which flew up to- ward the marble arch. The poor little ,ird must have had long flight before t could hope to find rest again for it's weary wings But if London continues 0 accumulate fine parks and open paces such sights should not be rare. London Mail.
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