MIGEATION OF SMALL BIRDS. 7o 



LETTER VII. 



" Wlien Autumn scatters his departing- gleams. 

 Warned of approa-jhing Winter, •' 



O'er the cahn sky, in convolution swift, 

 The feathered eddy floats ; * * * 



* * into wanner climes convey'd 



With other kindred birds of season, there 

 They twitter cheerful, till the vernal months 

 Invite them welcome back ; for, thronging, now 

 Innumerous wings are in commotion all." 



Thomson's Seasons. 



Periodical transit of Flocks of small Birds through 

 the County — Various Species — The Goldfinch — 

 " Harbour-Birds " and " Flight-Birds " — Anxiety 

 of the Bird-catcher — Pied Wagtail — Arrival on 

 the Coast in Spring — Plumage — Pilgrim Fathers 

 — ProgTess to the Interior — Return towards the 

 Coast — Determined Direction of Flight — Geogra- 

 phical Considerations. 



I HAVE for a long time been inclined to believe 

 that many British birds, usually supposed to be 

 permanent residents, as well as those generally 

 admitted to be summer or winter visitors, per- 



e2 



