168 STUDIES IN BIRD-MIGRATION 



Later in the season, the weather-evicted birds are 

 those which have ventured an early return to summer 

 quarters, especially such as have sought the higher and 

 more exposed situations. The birds chiefly affected are 

 ground-loving species, such as Lapwings, many of which 

 perished in Scotland during the storm of 26th to 30th 

 March 1901 ; and snow is the main cause of their dis- 

 content. As a rule, the unfavourable conditions do not 

 then prevail for long, and the fugitives soon seek again 

 their nesting grounds ; some of the birds, however, 

 are loth to quit their chosen haunts, and remain to brave 

 the storm, particularly if it be a late one, and then 

 many perish. With few exceptions these compulsory 

 retirements cease during the first half of March. 



The fact that these winter migrants largely seek the 

 coast and its neighbourhood, when evicted from their 

 British inland haunts, has often caused them to be re- 

 garded as arrivals from the Continent. Some immigrants 

 from abroad do appear on particular sections of our 

 coasts, and to these allusion will presently be made. 



The cold-weather movements are observed in progress 

 both at night and during the daytime ; but the emigrants 

 crossing the English Channel for South-western Europe 

 make the passage chiefly during the hours of darkness. 



Immigration from the Continent, etc. — During very 

 severe winters on the Continent and in the northern seas, 

 a number of refugees visit us, some of them to remain, 

 others on their way, perhaps, to more southern retreats. 



Not many land birds are derived from the north in 

 such seasons, for those that are not winter residents 

 leave in the autumn. A few Fieldfares, Thrushes, 

 Woodcock, Snipe, and Plovers have during exceptionally 

 severe winters made their appearance in Fair Isle and 



