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accustomed to observe all birds migrating north in spring to 

 breed. Now, I wonder if any species in the southren half mi- 

 grate southwards to breed in what would be our autumn, but to 

 them spring, as in August, September, and October, which would 

 be towards the Antarctic Circle. (On looking at a map of the 

 world this probably appears unlikely, as there appears to be so 

 little land free from ice southwards where they could breed, in 

 comparison to the land about the Artie Circle.) If there is a 

 southern migration of species inhabiting the southern portion to 

 breed, they would be acquiring their summer plumage in our 

 autumn, the very reverse time to that when our northern birds 

 do; and in cases where the two sets of migratory birds meet (if 

 they do), the contrary changes in plumage would completely 

 puzzle anyone. Perhaps some species of shore birds inhabiting 

 only the southern half of the world do not get a summer plumage. 



I suppose that such birds as the Pigmy Curlew and Grey 

 Plover the latter migrating to Australia, and the former 

 throughout the Indian Archipelago (Jerdon's " Birds of India") 

 return within the Arctic Circle in Asia to breed ; but for what 

 cause do they extend their migratory flight so far southward? 

 It cannot be for food only. 



I think I have heard or read that these and similar species, 

 when met with so far south, are never found in their summer 

 plumage. It would, therefore, be useful to know the precise 

 dates when they have been got so far south, to ascertain whether 

 they all do not again come northward so soon as the approaching 

 breeding season is about to commence. 



There is another point to which attention should be given. In 

 these day of rapid transit, it is very difficult to say what distance 

 recently killed birds may be brought ; and collectors should be 

 warned not to give excessive prices for birds said to be killed in 

 England or Scotland, unless they get them from very reliable 

 sources. Nothing is easier than for a Snowy Owl or Eagle to be 

 sent from Sweden or Norway along with grouse to some eastern 

 port in Scotland or England, and to be procured there and 

 forwarded to some other person at a distance with a false account 

 of its capture, which may be apparently reliable and minute. 



