MIGRATION ON THE COAST. 289 
or very early in April, the first of the purely 
southern species reach us. Two of the most 
familiar are the Wheatear and the Chiffchaff; Ring 
Ouzels, Willow Wrens, and Yellow Wagtails follow 
them closely. As April passes on, the numbers of 
our summer migrants increase; Whinchats, Red- 
starts, Wrynecks, Cuckoos, Whitethroats, Blackcaps, 
Swallows’, Martins, and so on, appearing in force. 
Towards the end of the month, and in May, Terns, 
various Sandpipers, Turtle Doves, and Quails, may 
all be found upon the coasts on their spring migra- 
tion. Among the last to appear are such species 
as Lesser Whitethroats, Spotted Fly Catchers, 
Garden Warblers, and Red-backed Shrikes. This 
spring migration of birds along the British coasts 
lasts for a period of quite four months— from 
February to the end of May, or the first week in 
June. Some birds may be observed on passage 
almost throughout this period; others not more 
than half this time—especially the Warblers, Wag- 
tails, and Pipits—others, yet again, complete their 
migration in a month or less, amongst these being 
the Red-backed Shrike and the Greenshank. For 
the spring migration of such species that visit the 
British Islands to breed, the southern coasts, of 
course, are the best points of observation—none 
of these birds breed south of their point of 
entrance to our area, as they all reach us from 
winter quarters in more southerly latitudes than 
ours. 
Ay 
