CHAPTER III 



EARLY SPRING ON THE MOORS 



February 



The outstanding" features of bird-life on the moors in 

 early spring - are but few ; and those few, at first, may 

 be disregarded, having no general bearing on ornithic 

 economy as a whole. True, some movements may be 

 conspicuous. For example, there are wide differences 

 in the local distribution of golden plover, peewits, and 

 snipe : but these are members of a cosmopolitan genus, 

 and their erratic movements at this period are simply 

 dictated by the exigencies of food-supply. One spring 

 a moss, or moor, or "haugh" may be full of them; 

 another year, in general appearance similar, there are 

 none — nor can their stay, while here, be depended upon 

 for an hour. 



Up to a certain period, it is labour lost to attempt 

 to explain these sudden comings and goings. They 

 depend upon causes operating over a wide area, and 

 many of which are probably impalpable to us. Suffice 

 it to say that these birds — all birds — know, in each 

 changing condition of weather, know instinctively which 

 area, which geological formation, will best serve their 

 immediate requirements : and that area they seek. 



There comes, however, a point of time in each year 



24 



