THE BRITISH ISLES: AUTUMN 147 



and are seen singly or in small parties, rarely in con- 

 siderable numbers or in flocks. The majority of these 

 earliest immiorants belong to the great Limicoline group 

 (plovers and sandpipers), and are chiefly adult birds. 

 Among them we find the following species : — Honey- 

 Buzzard, Spoonbill, Grey Plover, Turnstone, Great Snipe, 

 Knot, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Sanderling, Ruff, 

 Dusky Redshank, Green Sandpiper, Wood- Sandpiper, 

 Bar-tailed Godwit, and Black Tern. There are also 

 July records of the occurrence of the Brent-Goose, 

 Little Gull, etc., and of a number of rare casual visitors. 

 A singularly interesting visitor, which makes its 

 appearance in British waters during this month, is the 

 Great Shearwater. Many of these pelagic rovers, on 

 quitting their breeding haunts in the South Atlantic 

 Ocean, cross the equator, and move northwards to spend 

 the southern winter months in the temperate regions 

 of our hemisphere. 



August. — Departure of Siumner Visitors. — The 

 chief movements in August are those of departure, and 

 relate to the emigration of summer guests, including 

 those belonging to species which are partially migratory. 

 These now commence in earnest, and during the latter 

 days of the month a number of species, and very many 

 individuals, quit our shores. No great movements or 

 "rushes" are observed, for there are, as yet, no climatic 

 incentives to cause them, but the exodus is much in 

 evidence on the coast and its immediate vicinity. 



The summer visitors of species which are partially 

 migratory and are recorded as leaving us during this 

 month are : — Mistle-Thrush, Song-Thrush, Stonechat, 

 Redbreast, Goldcrest, Hedge-Accentor, Pied Wagtail, 



