Birds in London
London's Birds. By R. S. R. Fitter. (Collins. 10s. 6d.)
THERE is probably no place in the British Isles where a more systematic study of birds is made than in London, and Mr. Fitter in his new book give.; a concise and very readable account of the situation today and-in the past. In some ways the metropolis is richer in birds now than ever it was. It is certainly richer in naturalists and others who take an interest in the wild but often ridiculously tame birds of its parks, its streets and its squares. Owing to improved sanitation and the absence of garbage, we have lost the kites and the ravens, but we have gained the pigeons, the ducks, the gulls, and even more recently the black redstarts. The latter are apparently attracted by bombed sites, but why this should be so is puzzling, for in Switzerland these birds often share with their human companions most respectable houses ; there they may nest in the wash-house, but are just as likely to nest in the front porch. Mt. Fitter shows that the first London pair nested at Westminster in 1940 before the Blitz began, and that by x948 there were eight or nine pairs nesting in Westminster and the City. Much intriguing information is given about the past. For instance, a Crown lease of premises in Regent Street, granted in 1820 for 99 years, contained the condition that the lessees were not allowed to shbot snipe on the land on Sundays. There are many other reminders of what a marshy place London once was, with its bearded tits, spotted crakes and harriers, all once common in its precincts. London has become one of the greatest duck reserves in the country. Being much fed and very tame, many have been caught, ringed and released. One spectacular result has been the recovery of two tufted ducks ringed in St. James's Park In February, 1943, and January, 1945, the first from Novaya Zemlya the following May and the other from North of Moscow in June, 1946. I was delighted to be reminded of the story of Neville Chamber- lain and the grey wagtail. He reported to The Times that he had seen one on the drained bed of the lake in St. James's Park, with the postscript: " For the purpose of removing doubt . . . I should perhaps add that I mean a grey wagtail and not a pied." 116 colleague in the Cabinet. Malcolm MacDonald, dictated an answer, •
which his secretary unfortunately failed to send to The Times. "It may be of interest to record that whilst running about in St. James's Park, yesterday, I noticed a Chancellor of the Exchequer walking by the drained bed of the lake . . ." Signed Grey Wagtail. " P.S.—For the purpose of removing doubt . . . I should perhaps add that I mean a Chancellor of the Exchequer and not a Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster."
One criticism: the illustrations do not come opposite the text they illustrate. I know the difficulty, but both author and publisher ought to struggle and, if necessary, juggle the text so that the pic- tures fit into their proper places. The book should appeal to Londoners, but not only to Londoners, to naturalists, but not only
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