io OUR RARER BIRDS 



to spread into new districts. Birds sometimes increase too 

 rapidly, under exceptional conditions, and have to wander 

 forth in quest of fresh haunts ; as, for instance, the remarkable 

 irruption of Pallas's Sand-Grouse that spread into Western 

 Europe from Siberian steppes some five -and -twenty years 

 ago, and again during the spring of the present year. 



A word should also be given to the gipsy migrants. These 

 are birds like the Snow Bunting and the Shore Lark, which 

 have no regular winter home, and only wander southwards as 

 far as the frost compels them. They are for ever trying to get 

 north, and just as frequently being driven back again with 

 each recurring frost or storm. They may justly be called the 

 nomads of the polar regions, able to subsist upon any seed or 

 bud that may be left exposed above the snow. 



The migratory movements of birds are interesting in the 

 extreme. Their arrival is the harbinger of spring; their 

 departure the unfailing sign of winter's advent. But of 

 higher interest still are all the causes and influences which 

 prompt and govern these various migratory movements. We 

 see the woods all radiant with opening leaf and fragrant bloom 

 suddenly become tenanted with these little wanderers from 

 sunny southern lands delicate little creatures many of them, 

 whose bodies would scarcely fill a good-sized thimble ; yet we 

 know those frail little feathered travellers have crossed the 

 land and sea for many thousands of miles they are fresh 

 from the palm trees and glorious wealth of tropical verdure 

 far away in the soft lovely south. The terrors and the perils 

 of the long journey are soon forgotten like dreams they 

 pass away ; and songs of sweetest cadence pour joyously 

 from their little throats. In autumn's balmy days we see 

 these migrants preparing for their long journey. There are 

 young birds now to make that journey with them. All is 

 eager excitement to be gone. The browning leaves and 

 mournful winds of autumn, the first white frosts and cool 



