278 RELATION OF TERRITORY TO MIGRATION 



the far north and seeks its food during the 

 winter on the meadows, or perhaps of the 

 American Golden Plover that each year covers 

 a vast expanse of ocean in its journey from its 

 breeding ground. The length of the distance 

 strikes the imagination and constrains us to 

 focus attention upon the extremes. 



But migration is of much wider significance 

 than is here represented. I sit beside the River 

 Severn in April and watch Swallows, Tree- 

 Pipits, and Yellow Wagtails passing in twos 

 and threes, in small parties, or it may be in 

 small flocks ; and I observe that while some 

 establish themselves in the neighbourhood, 

 others pass on. Or I watch Herring-Gulls 

 returning to the breeding station at Bolt Head, 

 an endless stream of individuals coming from the 

 east as far as eye can reach ; following them for 

 some miles inland I see them still, first as specks 

 upon the horizon, then passing beside me as 

 they beat their way slowly against the strong 

 south-westerly winds, and finally disappearing 

 from view in the direction of the cliffs. Or 

 again, I watch Buntings and Finches deserting 

 the flock and seeking stations in the marsh, or 

 amongst the furze-bushes on the common, or in 

 the spinneys. In each case the proximate end 

 of the behaviour is alike — wherein then lies 

 the difference ? Only in the distance which 

 separates the territory from the area in which 

 the birds formerly associated. And intermediate 

 between the extremes, I doubt not, if we had 

 a sufficient body of observations, that we should 



