112 STUDIES IN BIRD-MIGRATION 



only about ten can be regarded as being regular in 

 their appearance, chiefly in the southern counties of 

 England, and most of them during the latter half of the 

 month. These regular March summer birds are the 

 Ring-Ouzel, Wheatear, Chiff-Chaff, Willow- Warbler, 

 Swallow, Sand-Martin, Wryneck, Garganey, and Sand- 

 wich Tern. Others less constant, but not infrequent in 

 their visits, are the Redstart, Blackcap, White Wagtail 

 (for passage). Yellow Wagtail, House - Martin, and 

 Common Sandpiper : ^ while the recorded appearance of 

 the Whinchat, Nightingale, Common and Lesser White- 

 throats, Garden- Warbler, Sedge- Warbler, Tree-Pipit, 

 Spotted and Pied Flycatchers, Red-backed Shrike, Swift, 

 Cuckoo, Hoopoe, Hobby, Corn - Crake, Dotterel, Ruff 

 and Reeve, Whimbrel, and Lesser Tern, must be 

 regarded as quite exceptional. 



The following summer birds reach Scotland during 

 the month, with more or less regularity : — The Ring- 

 Ouzel, Wheatear, Chiff-Chaff, Sand-Martin, and 

 Swallow ; rarely the House - Martin ; very rarely the 

 Willow- Warbler and the Redstart. The Lesser Black- 

 backed Gull, which is chiefly a summer visitor in 

 Scotland, also appears during the month. 



The Ring-Ouzel, Wheatear, Chiff-Chaff, and Sand- 

 Martin are regular March visitors to Ireland. The 

 Swallow is seldom observed before April, but appeared 

 over a wide area during the latter half of March in 1903. 



The meteorological character of the month has a 

 marked effect on the date of appearance of these first 

 arrivals among the summer birds. Thus during the 

 prolonged spell of genial weather which rendered March 



^ For the date of first appearance, and usual dates of arrival of the 

 Summer Visitors, see pp. 126-128. 



