TIIK MIGltATIONS OF THP] SONG-THRUSH 219 



There are also migrations from various British 

 haunts, where the winter has been spent, to summer 

 quarters in our isles. These usually commence in 

 February, but March is the main month during which 

 these local movements of home-bred Thrushes are 

 undertaken. 



Spring Eviioration of Winter Visitors. — About the 

 middle of March the Thrushes which have wintered in 

 Tiree and other islands off the western coasts of Scotland 

 and in Ireland are recorded as taking their departure 

 for the mainland. 



It is not, however, until the latter days of March ^ 

 and the early part of April that the birds which have 

 wintered in our islands leave our shores to return to 

 their summer haunts in Northern and perhaps Central 

 Europe.-^ The emigrations proceed throughout April, 

 when large numbers are observed ; a few are seen 

 during the early days of May ; and stragglers have 

 been detected in rushes of miofrants at the becrinninsf 

 of June.^ 



These emigratory movements come most under 

 notice on the north-east coast of England, the east 

 coast of Scotland, and at the Orkney and Shetland 

 Islands. They are also in evidence on the west coast 

 of Britain, in Ireland, and at the Hebridean Islands. 



' On 22nd March 1909, a few appeared in a rush of migrants at Fair 

 Isle. The other species observed were : Fieldfares, Redwings, Blackbirds, 

 Chaffinches, Yellow Buntings, Pied Wagtails, Skylarks, Starlings, Rooks, 

 Golden Plovers, and Lapwings. 



- Professor CoUett, Oversigt af Chrisiiania Oinei^ns urnithologiske Fauna, 

 p. 26, gives from the early to the last days of April as the period for the 

 Thrush's arrival in spring in the Christiania district. 



■^ At Fair Isle, on 8th June 1907, Thrushes occurred in company with 

 Wheatears, Blackcaps, Garden-Warblers, Whitethroats, Swallows, House- 

 and Sand-Martins, and a Snow Bunting. 



