Rural London London is a wonderful place ; and nothing
is more stir-' prising in it than the number of wild creatures. .that find a permanent or temporary home within its circle: Somethirig of this marvel appears in. the annual report of the fauna of the Royal Parks, though they tell only a part of the tale. They contain, for instance, no record of the four-footed creatures of London. What could be more unlikely a priori than the presence of a badger in a Roehampton garden ? Badgers have frequented. the garden for some years, and one was seen not long since, trotting across the lawn. This usually- shy . and furtive creature is pennanently at home there. Foxes are seen there too ; and the host of wood pigeons is. such that it is found extremely difficult to grow some . of their favourite vegetables ; and these greedy birds like most vegetables from Brussels sprouts to marrowfat peas. It might be worth while if those excellent naturalists who supply the data for this admirable report would-extend their observation to quad- rupeds. What species of vermin are found in the Parks ? Do they include the stoat ?
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