VARIOUS SPECIES. 77 



The advanced guard of this emigrant host 

 usually makes its appearance in the neighbour 

 hood of Worthing, Shoreham and Brighton about 

 the latter end of August or early in September, 

 and is generally composed of detachments of mea- 

 dow pipits* (Anthus pratensis), pied wagtails 

 (Motacilla Yarelli), tree-pipits (Anthus arboreus), 

 and yellow wagtails {Motacilla flava), the two 

 first-named species being generally understood to 

 be permanent residents in England during the 

 whole year. Many of these birds certainly do 

 remain with us during the winter, but I am dis- 

 posed to think that these are the natives of more 

 northern and western counties, which, having pro- 

 ceeded thus far towards the south-east, are, as it 

 were, satisfied with this partial migration, and 

 do not cross the Channel, unless subsequently 

 compelled to do so by unusual severity of wea- 

 ther at a much later period of the year. 



But the troops of these autumnal voyagers do 

 not consist merely of dentirostral or exclusively 

 insectivorous birds; the conirostral tribe furnishes 



* Some idea may be formed of the number aud ex- 

 tent of these flocks, from the fact that one skilfvd bii'd- 

 catcher, a few years ago, took, in the neighbourhood of 

 Brighton, as many as twenty-four dozen of meadow pipit.s 

 in a single morning. This was early in September. 



