BIRDS WHICH VISIT BRITAIN. 137 



have been known to breed on Dartmoor^ in Devon- 

 shire. Of those which inhabit Sweden, some remain 

 in certain provinces the whole year ; whilst others, in 

 different situations, change their habitations. 



It is well known that the cuckoo leaves us in au- 

 tumn, and does not return till spring : but where he 

 hides himself during the winter, has not yet been dis- 

 covered. 



The wryneck is supposed to feed on ants : when 

 these insects have retired into their winter quarters, 

 hunger obliges him to seek support in a warmer 

 climate. 



The fieldfare and the redwing live on hemes. Our 

 hedges supply them with this kind of food in winter ; 

 and in summer they are feasted in the forests of Nor- 

 way, and other northern countries. 



Larks, fly-catchers, wagtails, and warblers, feed on 

 insects and worms ; yet only part of them quit our 

 island on the approach of winter, though it is reason- 

 able to suppose that the same motive would influence 

 them all to act alike. 



Every species of curlews, woodcocks, sand-pipers, 

 and plovers, leave this country in the spring, and re- 

 tire to the North of Europe to breed. As soon as the 

 young can fly, they return here ; because the frost, 

 which sets in early in those cold regions, hardens the 

 ground, and deprives them of their natural subsistence. 



