ITS BIRDS
75
time engaged in catching cock chaffinches with bird-
lime, using a tame hen chaffinch as a decoy—an old
device. In reply to the hope which I expressed that he
did not catch nightingales, he replied, "No, sir, we
seldom catches 'em, and when we does, we lets 'em go."
From the preternatural innocence with which this was
said, it was perhaps true. The nests are placed on the
ground in dense herbage, and are fortunately difficult to
find.
Redstart. Frequent in summer, and a great ornament to
our Forest.
Hedge Sparrow. Very common.
Alpine Accentor. Many years ago a specimen of this rare
little bird was shot in a garden on the borders of
GREAT TIT.
the Forest by Mr. James Pamplin of Whip's Cross
Nursery, Walthamstow. It was taken to London and
identified by the late Mr. Gould, and wil be found
recorded in the Magazine of Natural History for 1832,
p. 288.
Garden Warbler. Its pleasing song not unfrequently heard
in April and May in forest copses and Wanstead Park ;
it used to be common about the avenues.
Sedge Warbler. Common in the spring by the Roding, at
Red Bridge, and in Wanstead Park.
Grasshopper Warbler. Common throughout the district.
Blackcap. Arrives early in April, and is common in the
forest and gardens, but especially in Wanstead Park,
where the wood echoes in early summer with its fine
song.
White-throat. In every hedge in spring and summer.
Lesser White-throat. A regular summer visitor to our
gardens ; a restless noisy little bird.
Chiff Chaff. Our earliest spring visitor.