xi Departing Birds : an Epilogue 273 



small orchard in a neighbouring village crowded with 

 them ; and no doubt this was a detachment resting 

 for the night, which would proceed on its way early 

 next morning. 



The following year, 1889, I discovered that 

 Swanage is an even better place than Lulworth for 

 u taking the auspices " in the autumn. On the 6th 

 of October, just before the Oxford term began, I was 

 able to pay a hurried visit to Swanage to see an old 

 pupil, whose family understand and indulge my 

 proclivities with most hospitable kindness. When 

 on the morning of the following day I reached the 

 coast near Durlstone Point, I found the Swallow 

 migration still going on, for a small party soon 

 passed me and disappeared in an easterly direction. 

 As they vanished the question occurred to me 

 What will they do when they reach the point where 

 the coast turns northward at a sharp right angle ? 

 Will they follow it, or will they cross the sea to the 

 Isle of Wight, or is this perhaps a point at which 

 they boldly strike across to France? It began to 

 dawn upon me, in fact, that this sudden turn in the 

 line of the coast would surely raise a question in the 

 minds of the birds as well as in mine, and I was 

 extremely curious to see what they would do. 



The question was soon answered. Walking nearer 

 to Durlstone Point, I watched for another party, 

 which was not long in coming. They passed by me, 



T 



