AUTUMN MIGRATION IN BRITISH AREA 263 



Turtle Doves are on the move during July. As none 

 of these birds have extended their area north or north- 

 east across Britain to continental areas or outlying 

 islands, we can come to no other conclusion than that 

 they are indigenous individuals moving south from our 

 area. These very early migrants are probably birds 

 whose broods have been destroyed or that have not been 

 breeding at all, just as we know the earliest travellers 

 from other areas are of a similar character. In August, 

 however, the departures commence very generally, the 

 migration assuming its greatest strength in September, 

 and dying almost entirely away in October, but little 

 being apparent in November. As the autumn com- 

 mences we have abundant signs of the approaching 

 departure of the British Summer Migrants. Nearly all 

 are moulting, songs have ceased, social and gregarious 

 tendencies are becoming more and more apparent. 

 During August the Swifts and Cuckoos depart south, 

 the migration continuing into September. Swallows 

 and Martins, most of the young now strong upon the 

 wing, significantly gather at well-recognized meeting- 

 places preparatory to departure. Flocks of Terns, 

 chiefly young, are moving south along the coast-lines. 

 At first the autumn migration is remarkable for the 

 preponderance of young ; later the old birds are in the 

 majority. Slowly as the mellow autumn days creep 

 on, bird after bird disappears from the old familiar 

 haunts ; species after species takes its departure along 

 the well-known routes to the south. Now and then a 

 general rush of one or two particular species will be re- 

 marked. No particular hour seems chosen, the migra- 

 tion progresses day and night pretty evenly, so long 

 as weather and wind are favourable. In the British 



