CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 115 



retaining the same colours as in summer, is consider- 

 ably altered in appearance during the winter months. 



The birds were obtained in the immediate neigh- 

 bourhood of Brighton, in December, 1874. 



PIED WAGTAIL. (SUMMER.) 

 Case 131. 



A few of these birds remain with us during the winter, 

 though by far the greater number are only summer 

 visitors to the British Islands. All through March 

 and the greater part of April they may be observed on 

 fine still mornings landing on the south coast by thou- 

 sands ; they never appear even in the slightest degree 

 fatigued or exhausted by their passage, as, after 

 alighting for a few minutes at some brackish .pool, or 

 on newly ploughed land, they invariably continue their 

 journey direct to the quarters they intend to take up 

 for the summer. Although hundreds might have been 

 observed within a mile or two of the shore during the 

 early morning, it is seldom that more than a pair or 

 two will be met with after two o'clock in the day, the 

 whole of the birds of passage having made their way 

 inland. 



Should the weather set in cold and stormy, few, if 

 any, will make their appearance, but with a change of 

 temperature, their accustomed haunts will again be 

 alive with fresh arrivals. 



The case is copied from a sketch taken on the north 

 side of the Downs, between Faliner and Plumpton, in 

 Sussex, the specimens, both old and young, being 

 obtained at the same place in June, 1872. 



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