CHAPTER XIII

SOUTH-WEST LONDON

Introductory remarks--Comparative large extent of public ground in South-west London--Battersea Park--Character and popularity--Bird life--Clapham Common: its present and past character--Wandsworth Common--The yellowhammer--Tooting Common--Tooting Bec--Questionable improvements--A passion for swans--Tooting Graveney--Streatham Common--Bird life--Magpies--Rookery--Bishop's Park, Fulham--A suggestion--Barn Elms Park--Barnes Common--A burial-ground--Birds--Putney Heath, Lower Putney Common, and Wimbledon Common--Description--Bird life--Rookeries--The badger--Richmond Park--Its vast extent and character--Bird life--Daws--Herons--The charm of large soaring birds--Kew Gardens--List of birds--Unfavourable changes--The Queen's private grounds 237