A SIR PLOVER'S YEAR 



of the Tyrol into the valley of the Danube, 

 and ever westwards. 



The sandpiper which has passed the winter 

 within the Indian Empire journeys via 

 the Arabian Sea into Persia, and thence on 

 to Turkey. Thousands and tens of thousands 

 of our birds take this mighty journey twice 

 a year, in order to lay their eggs in the woods 

 and coppices of European countries, ex- 

 tending into Great Britain, Scandinavia, 

 and Siberia. In the autumn the return 

 journey is undertaken, and the same dangers 

 faced anew, this time by masses of young 

 and inexperienced birds. Some birds seem 

 to arrive in a much more exhausted con- 

 dition than others. A pipit coming in from 

 the sea generally alights on the first field 

 to which he comes. Larks, on the other 

 hand, fly low and in little parties, uttering 

 their call-notes, and appearing to suffer no 

 distress. 



Migrants usually pass straight on into the 

 interior, but some wading-birds rest by the 

 way to feed, and then proceed by easy 

 stages. Other birds, again, arrive in a most 

 exhausted condition, and thousands are 

 snared and netted as they cross some of the 



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