AUTUMN ON THE MOORS 193 



west, and passes along the east of Spain ; but the redwing- 

 is not uncommon in the Andalusian hills, associating with 

 the thrushes. 



The ring-ouzels, tree-pipits, redstarts, whinchats, and 

 wheatears all reach Spain at that date (October) ; but most 

 of these pass through into Africa, and only reappear on 

 their way northward in the following March. 



Thus has systematised observation at home, aided by 

 the recorded researches of naturalists abroad, enabled us 

 to follow step by step these migrants in their unseen flight. 

 This enlarged knowledge of the seasonal distribution of 

 birds has cast a light on migration that none dreamed of 

 a generation ago. That is why I have here ventured to 

 follow our September blackbirds and thrushes away 

 through France into Spain ; and our ring-ouzels, wheat- 

 ears, and redstarts onwards through Spain into Africa. 1 



In the wild moorland, where the grouse is the domi- 

 nant type, the homely partridge is hardly of much account 



1 The ring-ouzel, while these chapters are yet in manuscript, has been 

 stated to winter in parts of England ; and evidence is adduced {Field 

 May 26th, 1906) that I will certainly not question or doubt. It refers 

 exclusively, however, to the west and south. Bearing in mind that the 

 ring-ouzel passes right across Europe into Africa every autumn, before 

 finding a congenial winter home, it seems incredible that such desiderata 

 should, after all, exist in this island. But it is unwise to be do°-matic. 

 Such marked and unexpected effects may be produced on bird-life by a 

 single hill-range— even such hills as we can boast — that (especially when 

 aided, as in this instance, by the influence of the Gulf Stream) these apparent 

 anomalies become conceivable. During the discussion, the Duchess of 

 Bedford obligingly wrote me that in Scotland she had twice observed ring- 

 ouzels on Cairnsmore, in Galloway (a district notable for mild winters) as 

 late as October 23rd and 25th (1905), while, as regards England, other 

 evidence makes it clear that at favourable points on our west coast 

 and in the south, some ring-ouzels do pass the winter. But that they 

 do not remain in Northumberland, or elsewhere on the east coast I am 

 equally confident ; for, spending the winter as I do, and constantly shooting 

 right in their favourite haunts, it would be impossible for the conspicuous 

 ring-ouzel to escape observation, were any there. 



N 



