282 Among the Birds in Northern Shires. 



such species as Twites, Merlins, Meadow Pipits, 

 Lapwings, Plovers, Curlews, Mallards, and some 

 few other Ducks. This movement has already been 

 described in detail in our accounts of these various 

 species, so it is not necessary to treat with it here at 

 greater length. It is, however, a migrational move- 

 ment of no small interest, though not a little over- 

 looked by ordinary observers. Thus does the 

 migration of birds progress, in spring and in autumn, 

 across these northern shires, the phenomenon being 

 very similar in its general aspects from year to year. 

 Variety is, however, furnished in the numbers of the 

 several species that so migrate, in the dates of their 

 movements, and also in the occurrences of those 

 abnormal migrants for which these shires have an 

 exceptionally abundant share. We have not space 

 here to chronicle the species that have paid these 

 shires such abnormal visits, but the subject is cer- 

 tainly an interesting one and worthy of passing men- 

 tion at least. 



We propose now to devote the concluding pages 

 of the present chapter to a brief rc^sum^ of the 

 various ornithological events that so thickly dot the 

 field-naturalist's calendar, more especially as they 

 relate to South Yorkshire. There is a great charm 

 about the observation of these events, that from 

 year to year take place in sequence that is as re- 

 markable for its order as for its punctuality; a 



