64 ORNITHOLOGICAL RAMBLES. 



ranks; but in the ensuing month, the woods in 

 the interior, and the cliffs on the coast, contain 

 only the usual number that sojourn with us 

 dming the breeding-season; and, on the whole, 

 the species appears to be but moderately dis- 

 tributed throughout this county until the arrival 

 of new migratory parties from the north during 

 the folio wincr autumn.* 



* It has been my anxious wish to exclude as much 

 as possible from these pages all matters of a controver- 

 sial nature, and I have generally abstained from enter- 

 ing into the subject of migration, as a "qucestio vexata," 

 which would appear to have baffled or puzzled so many 

 great zoologists. Still, one's views and opinions will, 

 however carefully kept in check, occasionally ooze out, 

 as it were, in spite of one's self Even so I find that 

 I have been unconsciously attempting to account for 

 the migration of the kestrel. Should these remarks 

 ever meet the eye of the distinguished author whom I 

 have just quoted, and whose mteresting and truthful 

 descriptions must endear him to every lover of Nature, 

 I hope he will not think that I am ambitious of run- 

 ning a tilt with him in a field where he has aheady 

 gathered so many laurels. 



