BIRD MIGRATION IN SOLWAY 197 



doubt that the birds were all resting on migration. At 

 two o'clock, when I specially looked for them, not a single 

 bird of the hundreds seen in the morning could be found." 



The last of the Thrushes and Blackbirds have not left 

 when great flocks of Redwings and Fieldfares arrive to 

 take the places of their congeners, and enliven with their 

 presence and chattering calls the dullest months of the 

 year. Many a time I have watched the arrival of the 

 Redwings (the Fieldfares are not so readily seen) from an 

 easterly direction, thus crossing at right angles the line of 

 flight of other birds going southwards. That is an 

 exceptionally interesting point in our local migration 

 phenomena. 



Every one has seen the Swallows and their kindred 

 gathering for departure. For some days we may have been 

 watching a flock of Swallows. It becomes gradually larger 

 as recruits join its ranks from the surrounding district. 

 Two or more such flocks will sometimes, and often do, 

 coalesce. Some fine sunny morning the flock will be 

 noticed to be unusually active. Sudden flights from the 

 house-tops where they sit will be taken, and after a short 

 wheel or two round the roof they will again alight. 

 Generally soon after noonday these flights become of longer 

 duration, on a wider circuit, each time the flock rises. 

 Then, with that sudden and simultaneous movement that is 

 so conspicuous a feature in the behaviour of the birds at 

 departing time, all head southwards, and move slowly 

 onwards till lost to sight. Sometimes they rise to great 

 heights ; usually they remain comparatively low in altitude. 



The species discussed so far are all land birds, 

 belonging to the division of the Singers, and while the 

 questions to be solved in the great movements of seasonal 

 migration performed twice a year by them are of the most 

 intricate and complex nature, we must now leave them and 

 consider the fine groups of Waders and Swimmers, whose 

 movements are more easily observed and noted. 



These gather in our area, or pass overhead in, for the 

 most part, large bodies, or constant streams of small parties, 

 so that the merest tyro will notice their movements. Fore- 

 most amongst them comes the Lapwing, whose hosts are, in 



