bedding is well done, and attracts great attention. Those in the East End have just as keen an appreciation as the frequenters of Hyde Park, of the display of flowers. The green-house in winter is much enjoyed, and a succession of bright flowers is kept there during the dark months of the year. The children’s sand garden is also a delight. [Illustration: PAGODA ON THE ISLAND, VICTORIA PARK.] In spite of its situation in a densely-populated district, the feathered tribes have not quite deserted the Park. The moor-hen builds by the lake and the ringdove nests in the trees. Though the greenfinch and the wren have vanished, some songsters still gladden the world. Blackbirds, thrushes, and chaffinches are by no means uncommon. Some of these latter get caught, and take part in the popular amusement of singing-matches. Many men in the district keep chaffinches in cages, and bring them to the Park on a Sunday morning that they may practise their notes in chorus with their wild associates, and so beat the caged bird of some rival. Sometimes the temptation is too great, and the wild birds are kidnapped to join the competition. FINSBURY PARK Finsbury is second in size, and second in date of construction, of the Parks of North London. It is far from Finsbury, being really in Hornsey, but as the idea, first expressed about 1850, was to make a Park for the borough of Finsbury, the name was retained although the land acquired some years later was somewhat remote. The movement was first set on foot when building began to destroy all the open spaces near Finsbury Fields. Some of these, like Spa Fields, had been popular places of resort as Tea Gardens, but were being rapidly covered with houses, and separating Finsbury altogether from the country. Many delays, owing to changes of Government, occurred before the necessary legislation was accomplished. When the Metropolitan Board of Works came into being, it took up the scheme, and it was finally under its auspices that the land was purchased, and the Park, 115 acres in extent, was opened in 1869. On the highest point of the ground there is a lake, which was in existence before it became a public park. Near there stood Hornsey Wood House, a Tea Garden of some reputation in the eighteenth century. About the year 1800 the old house was pulled down, and the new proprietor built another tavern, and converted part of the remains of Hornsey Wood into an artificial lake for boating and angling. This second house existed until it was pulled down in 1866, when the Park was in progress. Hornsey Wood was part of the forest which bounded London on the north, and the site of the Park was in the manor of Brownswood, which was held by the See of London.