ISOLATION OF THE MAI I 57 



case of many resident speck's tlie conditions arc 

 sonicwliat dillcmit, for tliey remain in the same 

 locality throughout the year, and a gradual 

 unfolding of the reproductive process cannot 

 therefore have a similarly harmful effect. Thus 

 it comes about that the behaviour of the 

 migrant, when it arrives at the breeding ground 

 and first falls under observation, represents a 

 stage in the process which, in the case of the 

 resident, is only reached by slow degrees ; and 

 by closely observing the behaviour as it is 

 presented to us in the life of the resident male, 

 we not only gain a better insight into the 

 changes in operation, but can actually witness 

 the breaking down of the winter routine, stereo- 

 typed through repetition, by the new disposition 

 as it arises. 



The first visible manifestations, even though 

 they may be characterised by a certain amount 

 of vagueness, are therefore of great importance 

 if the behaviour is to be interpreted aright ; and 

 in order to insure that none of these earlier 

 symptoms shall be missed, it is necessary to 

 begin the daily record of the bird's movements 

 at an early date in the season. As a rule the 

 second week in February is sufficiently early for 

 the purpose, but the date varies according to the 

 prevailing climatic conditions. Even in species 

 widely remote there is great similarity of pro- 

 cedure, and the behaviour of the Buntings is 

 typical of that of many. With the rise of the 

 appropriate organic state the male resorts at 

 daybreak to a suitable environment, occupies a 



