188 OUR MIGRANTS. 
quaint, quiet-looking little bird seated on the top of a rail or ona 
small bough, darting off chasing and catching flies, and then 
returning to the same bough after each capture, without noticing 
the great part itis performing in the economy of Nature, and 
how silently it is aiding in the maintenance of the balance 
and harmony of creation. I have known this species build 
two nests in the same place during one season. The Fly- 
catchers leave us in the Autumn; what their southern range 
is Ido not know, but it is probably confined to the southern 
parts of Europe and the north of Africa. ; 
In addition to the birds I have noticed as among our common 
summer migrants, I should say that many of our common birds 
which are not usually considered migratory are indeed so to a 
great extent. Thus, large numbers of Goldfinches, Greenfinches, 
and Wagtails collect on the southern shores of England in the 
autumn season and pass over the Straits of Dover into France, 
returning in the following spring. This is well-known to the 
Brighton bird-catchers, by whom the Goldfinches from France 
are much valued on account of their gayer plumage, while those 
which sojourn here are contemptuously styled harbour-birds, 
their plumage being in early spring very inferior to that of 
the migratory birds. This is no doubt owing to the difference 
in climate. 
I cannot in this paper notice the various species of our winter 
visitants. This can, if thought desirable, be followed up in 
another paper. They consist of, amongst others, the Fieldfare, 
Redwing (which here only utters 1 harsh sort of note, but is 
celebrated in Norway for the beauty of its song), the Snipe, 
Woodeock, Crossbill, Wildswan, Wildgoose, and several others. 
They cannot possess in our eyes quite the interest which is claimed 
by those which come in summer, and take up their abode, cheer- 
ing us with their song, and rearing their young among us. We 
cannot, however, think for one moment of the long and marvellous 
nocturnal flight of the Woodcocks across the German Ocean, 
without seeing the development of that wondrous instinct which 
guides them in such flight; nor can we gaze upon the meanest 
o¥ commonest of our summer or wint.r migrants—the little 
a 
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SS 
