BIRD-LIFE ON THE MOORS IN EARLY SPRING. 19 



of March and April, and retire to breed in more northern 

 lands in May. 



In the latter half of February occurs the vernal influx of 

 Skylarks, varying in date according to the character of the 

 season. In mild winters a few of these birds remain in the 

 neighbourhood of the moors all the winter. That of 1885—6 

 was a rather remarkable instance, and illustrates how com- 

 pletely ornithic instinct is sometimes at fault in forecasting 

 the weather. Throughout the mild months of December 

 and January, Skylarks had been unusually numerous ; and 

 their numbers received a great accession in February. On 

 the 7th of that month some had even commenced to sinsf • 

 but the sudden and memorable snowstorms of March 1st 

 and following days, which buried North Britain under many 

 feet of drifts, isolated towns and villages, and swallowed up 

 whole trains on the railways, most effectually broke the 

 spring-dreams of the little songsters. They wholly dis- 

 appeared until the snow melted on March 19th and following 

 days, 



February 2?.nd is the date on which, in three consecutive 

 years, the Pied Wagtail has made its appearance, and in a 

 fourth year it was only one day later. The Wagtails are 

 hardy birds ; for insect-feeders they arrive singularly early. 

 Indeed, in mild seasons, it is not unusual to see some of the 

 Grey species {Motacilla hoarula) daintily running about the 

 burn-sides and shallow water in mid-winter. There occurs, 

 however, a visible accession to their numbers, by migration, 

 during March. 



The above comprise all the species whose advent I have 

 been able to observe up to the end of the month of 

 February. 



Early in March the Mallards and Teal return to the moor- 

 land loughs. Where they have been since December does 

 not appear ; but, even in open winters, it sometimes happens 

 that we have hardly any ducks at all on the higher moors, 

 except, perhaps, a few Golden -eyes at intervals. 



March 8tJi. — The Ravens at * have five eggs, 



* With young Ravens at half-a guinea apiece, and the insatiable — 

 aye, insane — greed of "collectors" for British-killed specimens, it is 



c 2 



