34 SKETCHES OF BIRD LIFE, 



their appearance from more northern counties. 

 They remain but a few days to recruit, and then 

 resume their flight in a south-westerly direction. 

 In Norfolk Mr. Stevenson has remarked that in 

 autumn a migratory movement takes place with 

 Blackbirds as well as Thrushes, and we have fre- 

 quently observed the same thing in West Sussex. 



In Ireland, says Mr. Blake- Knox (Zoologist, 

 1867, p. 684), " miles of hedges may be traversed 

 in September and October, and not one seen ; but 

 in November, when the haws are ripe, every hedge 

 and garden is full of them, old and young. No- 

 where can we go countryways but we hear their 

 cheery cries, and I know persons who have at this 

 season shot several dozens in a day for making pies." 



From these observations made in different parts 

 of the country, it is probable that the Blackbird is 

 to a certain extent migratory throughout the British 

 Islands ; but although our home-bred birds may, 

 and undoubtedly do, receive considerable accessions 

 to their ranks during the autumn, numbers of which 

 pass on southward, it is evident that a great many 

 remain to spend the winter with us. 



As an instance of how unsafe it is to generalise 



