124 RELATION OF SONG TO THE TERRITORY 



miles, others again find suitable accommodation 

 in a neighbouring parish — nearly all have a 

 journey to perform, it may be short or it may be 

 long. The flocks of Finches gradually decrease 

 and we observe the males scattering in different 

 directions in search of territories ; we watch the 

 summer migrants on their way — small parties 

 halting for a few hours in the hedgerows and 

 then continuing their journey, single individuals 

 alighting on trees and bushes and resting there 

 for a few minutes, and the constant passage of 

 flocks of various dimensions at various altitudes ; 

 and we see Fieldfares, Redwings, and Bramblings 

 slowly making their way from the south and 

 the west to their homes in the far north. 

 Occasionally we hear their song, not the 

 emotional outburst customary at this season, 

 but, except in isolated cases, a weak and tenta- 

 tive performance. Gatke speaks of the absence 

 of song on the Island of Heligoland, and refers 

 to the Whitethroat as one of the few migrants 

 that enliven that desolate rock with their melody. 

 On the other hand, many migrants that rest 

 temporarily on the Isle of May sing vigorously.^ 

 But on the whole there is, I think, no question 

 that the male whilst travelling to its breeding 

 grounds, and, even after its arrival, whilst in 

 search of a territory, sings but little — and that 

 little lacks the persistency characteristic of 

 the period of sexual activity. Yet, when a 

 suitable territory is eventually secured, the 

 nature of the bird seems to change ; for, instead 



1 Ibis, April 1918. 



