MIGRATION OF SHORE-BIRDS III 
the full swing of shore-bird migration is in operation. A 
noticeable increase in curlews (noted by their different manners 
and unwary movements) occurs in October. Shore-birds are 
in this month as numerousas they will be, if no severe weather 
influences an immigration from the Continent. Thus, in the 
months of January and February, knots, in very hard winters, 
congregate in enormous flocks on our coasts. 
In August some local migration of wildfowl takes place. We 
are in this month visited by the first lots of mallard leaving their 
breeding haunts, as well as other fowl, such as shovelers, teal, 
tufted duck, and pochards. A few widgeon—probably those 
which breed in the northern parts of Scotland or at no higher 
latitude—are often met with in England during August. Of 
course, a few odd pairs breed in England, but the widgeon 
seen in August undoubtedly outnumber those which breed 
in this country. 
October brings with it the arrival of large numbers of 
widgeon and mallard, but the latter species may be said to 
come in the largest flocks in November. Grey geese reach 
us in force during October, and increase in number until the 
end of November. Some pass further south. In February they 
return, and during this month are most numerous on the tide- 
ways. Whether large numbers of grey geese (pink-footed) 
which have journeyed south along the Continent return via the 
British Isles I cannot say, but it is undoubted that when these 
birds are congregating to go north they are seen in the largest 
flocks. Brent, compared with other fowl, reach us late. Few 
are here before November, and in general they are not looked 
for in great numbers until after Christmas. The severity of a 
winter has much to do with the number of brent which reach 
our shores. Their proper migratory season is over long before 
the inclement weather drives them in big lots to the British 
Isles ; thus it might be stated that brent, and to an extent all 
geese, are subject to local migration, which is partly governed 
