222 STUDIES IN BIRD-MIGRATION 



it is to nearly the whole of Northern and a great part of 

 Central Europe, departing after the breeding season to 

 its accustomed winter quarters. During its journeyings 

 to the south and west in the fall of the year, and again 

 on its return in spring, the Skylark appears in vast 

 numbers on our coasts as a bird of passage, while, owing 

 to their intermediate geographical position and their 

 milder climate, the British Islands are much resorted to 

 by the Continental Skylark as a winter visitant, one 

 which largely replaces the native birds which have in 

 the autumn fled our country. 



The various migrations of the species may be 

 conveniently separated and arranged as follows, begin- 

 ning with the autumnal movements ; and when it is 

 considered that several of these movements are often 

 simultaneously in progress, some idea of their complexity 

 and the extreme difficulty of their interpretation may be 

 realised : — 



1. Local movements at the end of summer to winter 

 retreats in the British Isles. 



2. Autumn emigration of summer visitors (the 

 members of the British migratory race), with their 

 offspring — i.e., home-breeding and home-bred birds. 



3. Autumn immigration of winter visitors to England 

 from Central Europe. 



4. Autumn immigration of winter visitors to the 

 British Isles from Northern Europe. 



5. Autumn passage from Central to Southern Europe 

 along the south-east and south coasts of England. 



6. Autumn passage from Northern to Southern 

 Europe along the British coasts. 



7. Winter emigration from, and local migration within, 

 the British Islands, due to severe weather conditions. 



