EARLY SPRING ON THE MOORS 29 



in May. By that date, those curlews that do breed here 

 have already laid their eggs on the higher moors. 



On February 28th, the Peewits at Houxty first began 

 to utter their spring note — a seasonal sound I had 

 enjoyed hearing exactly one month earlier (on January 

 28th) in Southern Spain. 



Towards the end of February occurs an influx of 

 Skylarks. This common familiar friend is essentially a 

 wanderer. The known facts of his geographical distribu- 

 tion at the various seasons prove this. In mild seasons 

 some remain all winter : in others, none. That of 1885-6 

 was a noteworthy instance, illustrative of how bird- 

 instinct is sometimes at fault in its forecasts. During 

 the mild months of December and January, skylarks 

 had been numerous ; and their numbers increased in 

 February. On the 7th of that month, some had even 

 commenced to sing: but on March 1st, a memorable 

 storm buried the Borders under snow-drifts many 

 feet in depth, isolating villages and swallowing 

 up whole trains on the railways. The spring-dreams 

 of the songsters were dissipated. No more were seen 

 till the snow had melted, three weeks later. 



February 22nd is the date on which, in three con- 

 secutive years, the Pied Wagtail has made its appearance : 

 and in a fourth year, it was only one day later. The 

 Grey Wagtail {Motacilla melanope) is scarcely due before 

 mid-March. The wagtails are hardy birds : considering 

 that they are strictly insect-feeders, their advent in the 

 north is singularly early — nearly two months before 

 the bulk of the summer-birds. But more than this : 

 Although I have just given their dates of arrival, yet 

 it is not uncommon, in mild seasons, to see stray 

 individuals of both species (but especially the grey) in 



