xi Departing Birds : an Epilogue 269 



Dorset coast. By the sea at Sidmouth, where we 

 spent one whole day, we saw nothing of them ; that 

 loveliest of watering-places had nothing to show us 

 in the way of migration. No bird, indeed, need have 

 wished to leave such a tropical climate as we found 

 there ; the Chiffchaff was in full and vigorous song 

 there on the 20th, and the Willow-wren was also 

 heard. 



On the 21st we went on to Swanage in cooler 

 weather, with rain falling at intervals. Swanage is 

 a good point for watching the movements of such 

 birds as pass along our southern coast ; for here 

 ends abruptly that long line of down which includes 

 Bindon Hill, and here too ends the long stretch of 

 coast extending eastwards from Weymouth Bay. 

 Birds which are pursuing either down or coast-line 

 will, when they arrive at Swanage, have to consider 

 what to do next : whether to turn up northwards to 

 Poole harbour and Bournemouth, or to go straight 

 across to the Isle of Wight, which on any clear day 

 is distinctly visible. The result seems to be that the 

 angle formed by Swanage Bay and the coast from St. 

 Aldhelm's Head to Durlstone Point is sometimes as 

 full as it can hold of birds in the autumn, and chiefly 

 of Linnets, Pipits, and Wagtails, with a fair sprinkling 

 of Warblers and Chats ; and here too the Landrails 

 seem to congregate, for no less than twenty-five were 

 shot here in a single field by a sporting friend of mine. 



