144 STUDIES IN BIRD-MIGRATION 



even on the remotest of our pelagic islands, where 

 numbers perished for want .of suitable food. These 

 remarkable movements, despite the date of their per- 

 formance, must be classified among those of the autumn, 

 for they are embarked upon after the breeding season 

 is over, and the young birds accompany the old in these 

 enigmatical summer wanderings. 



July. — The comments 'just made on the shortness 

 of the interval between the flow of the migratory 

 stream towards summer quarters for nesting and 

 the setting in of the ebb towards winter retreats, 

 especially concern this month. The remarks on the 

 early return-movements of the British migrants and 

 their probable causes also belong chiefly to July. 



Local Movements. — Among the most regular of the 

 July movements are those which relate to the departure 

 of a number of our native birds from the localities in 

 which the summer has been spent, to seek the autumn 

 feeding grounds, which in some cases may not be far away. 

 Some of the earliest birds to quit their summer quarters 

 are certain plovers and sandpipers which, accompanied 

 by their young, return to the coast ; and the fledglings 

 of a number of " sea-fowl " leave their rocky nurseries 

 and take to the neighbouring sea. The following species 

 participate in these July local migrations : Grey Lag- 

 Goose, Mallard, Shoveler, Redshank, Golden Plover, 

 Lapwing, Ring-Plover, Oyster-catcher, Greenshank, 

 Dunlin, Snipe, Whimbrel, Curlew, Arctic and Common 

 Terns, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Kittiwake, 

 Great Skua, Arctic Skua, Guillemot, Razorbill, Pufiin, 

 and doubtless others which have not come under my 

 observation, for these retirements are very gradually and 



