Variation of Numbers. 1 23 



those individuals which were with us last summer, 

 and we cannot tell whether the deficiency would 

 be supplied from other sources. Even a severe 

 storm in the spring or autumn journey would 

 destroy an immense number of birds so tender 

 and fragile ; and we must not forget that these 

 journeys take place at the very seasons when 

 storms are especially frequent and violent. Any 

 very serious alteration in the methods of dealing 

 with the land in this country, such as the substi- 

 tution of railings or ditches for hedges, or the 

 wholesale felling of woods and copses, would also 

 most certainly affect the numbers of this and most 

 other birds ; but in the course of the last few 

 years no such change of any magnitude has taken 

 place, and the increase of the Redstarts must be 

 put down, I think, to causes taking effect beyond 

 the sea. 



The only really annoying destruction of hedges 

 in our immediate neighbourhood within my recol- 

 lection is one for which I ought always to be 

 grateful, for it brought me a sight of the only 

 Black Redstart I have ever seen in England. I 

 mentioned in the last chapter that this little bird, 



