MR SELBY ON THE WINTER OF 1839. 193 



to prevail in the south of England, as in a communication from Mr 

 Yarrell, he mentions that the paucity of summer visitants had been ge- 

 nerally remarked by those who interest themselves in ornithology and 

 observations connected with it. The cause of this deficiency I attribute 

 to the very cold and ungenial weather which prevailed not only through- 

 out Britain, but over a great portion of the European Continent, at the 

 time these birds usually undertake their periodical flights, and which, 1 

 imagine, stopped many on their course, and prevented that extended 

 movement which, in ordinary years, permits their reaching our own and 

 even higher latitudes. That their lessened numbers arose from causes 

 which affected them during their winter sojourn can scarcely be sup- 

 posed, as that portion of the year, it is now well ascertained, is passed by 

 most of them in the warm region of the African Continent or in those 

 parts of Southern Europe, where frost is scarcely known. Some few 

 may undoubtedly have perished on the way, or from having advanced 

 at too early a period into the north of Europe, where, in consequence of 

 the chilling cold that prevailed, no appropriate food could be found, and 

 thus died of hunger ; but the more probable reason is, I think, that al- 

 ready assigned, viz. that they were stopped on their advance by the pe- 

 culiarity of the season, and were compelled to remain and nidificate in 

 lower latitudes than they are generally accustomed to do. Of the few 

 which did arrive, it was observed that their first appearance was nearly 

 a fortnight later than has generally been the case, upon an average 

 taken from a register of some twenty years past. Thus I find that the 

 Willow Wren (Sylvia trochilus), instead of the 1 6th or 1 8th of April, 

 was not seen or heard before the 3d of May ; the same in regard to the 

 Blackcap (Curruca atricapilla), the Tree Pipit (Anthus arboreus), 

 the Whinchat (Saxicola rubetus) ; and the 13th of May had arrived be- 

 fore an individual of the Fly-catcher (Muscicapa grisola) was observed. 

 Of the species just enumerated, a deficiency, such as I have already men- 

 tioned, was remarked ; but I think it was even more striking in others, 

 among which I may particularize the Sedge-warbler (Salicaria phragmi- 

 tis), Greater Petty -chaps (Curruca montana), White-throat (Curruca 

 cinerea). To this cold and long-retarded spring, succeeded a short and, 

 with the exception of a few days in July, a moist and chilly summer, 

 circumstances which affected not only the increase of animal life, but 

 produced the more serious calamity of a deficient harvest. Fruits also 

 did not ripen at all, or very imperfectly, and were devoid of their proper 

 taste and flavour. In conclusion, I may add, that a great deficiency of 

 the insect tribes was generally remarked, and, from having given a con- 

 siderable degree of attention to the entomology of this district for some 

 years past, I can confidently say, that in most of its great families or di- 

 visions the remark is correct, more particularly as it applies to the Co- 

 leopterous and Lepidopterous insects, upon a comparison with what was 

 observed in* 1835 and 1836, as well as years previous to that date. 



