244 STUDIES IN BIRD-MIGRATION 



somewhat limited haunts for this bird as a summer 

 visitor. 



The northern immigrants arrive on our shores during 

 the night and the earliest hours of the morning, and fre- 

 quently appear simultaneously, if not in company, with 

 Song-Thrushes, Fieldfares, Redwings, Blackbirds, Ring- 

 Ouzels, Redbreasts, Goldcrests, Bramblings, Skylarks, 

 Starlings, Snipes, Woodcocks, etc. 



Many, perhaps the great majority, of these 

 northern birds are bent on passing the winter in 

 our islands, and proceed along the coastlines and move 

 inland to reach suitable haunts. Whether they remain 

 the entire season depends upon the nature of the 

 winter — i.e., whether it is sufficiently mild to allow them 

 to do so. 



Autumn Immigration from Western Central Europe. 

 — During the last days of September, throughout 

 October, and in early November^ there are records of 

 parties of Lapwings being observed at the lightships off 

 the south-east coast of England. These migrants are 

 proceeding in a westerly direction towards the coast of 

 Essex and the mouth of the Thames as a centre, but 

 with their right wing extending to the Norfolk, Lincoln- 

 shire, and even Yorkshire coasts, and their left to the 

 east coast of Kent. These Lapwings from the opposite 

 coast of the Continent, reach our shores by a direct 

 passage across the southern waters of the North Sea. 

 The arrivals take place during the daytime and at night ; 

 but there are no general movements recorded, and the 

 observations chronicled are few and scattered during any 



1 In 1885 at the Hasbro lightship, off the Norfolk coast, many were passing 

 west and west-north-west on the nights of 22nd and 23rd November — 

 perhaps a cold-weather movement from the Continent. 



