CHAPTER XIII 



THE MARITIME DISTRICT 



The autumnal movement of birds — Linnets on the downs — Birds 

 wintering in the maritime district — Character of the district — 

 Birdtiam — Rooks and starlings — Skylarks and finches — Dun- 

 nock and wren — Peewits on the Cuckmere — Peewit's hatred of 

 the rook — Peewit's wing-exercises — Peewits in flocks — Black- 

 headed gulls — Charm of the maritime district — Gloomy 

 weather — Missel-thrush ; his temper, habits, and song — 

 The spire of Chichester Cathedral ; its aesthetic value in 

 the landscape. 



The autumnal movement of birds, both migrants and 

 residents, is most marked throughout the downland 

 and maritime districts of Sussex during the month of 

 October. Swallows gather in numbers in the weald at 

 the foot of the downs, but on the long strip of country, 

 hilly and flat, that lies between the weald district and 

 the sea the insectivorous migrants are not much seen, 

 as they do not break their journey here. The excep- 

 tions are the wheatear, pied wagtail, stonechat (travel- 



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