NOTES OF BIRDS. 93 



Bulbeck much after the middle of July, generally 

 continue in song at Ely till the middle of August. 

 For several years that I was in the habit formerly of 

 spending a portion of the summer there, I noticed 

 this fact. The earliest date of their stopping, that 

 ever occurred to me in the precincts of that town, 

 was the 10th of August ; whilst some seasons I heard 

 them both, on to the 26th of that month. 



With regard to birds re-assuming in autumn, it 

 seems a matter of great uncertainty, in most cases, 

 even in a given locality. Some species re-assume 

 with considerable regularity; but still at variable 

 periods, and for very different lengths of time in dif- 

 ferent seasons. Occasionally they are heard for a few 

 days only, before they are again silent ; at other 

 times they will continue singing, on and off at inter- 

 vals, to the end of the year, according as it may 

 happen. 



White has observed, that, in the case of the red- 

 breast, "many songsters of the autumn seem to be 

 the young cocks of that year." * It has often occurred 

 to me that this may be generally the case with all 

 birds that re-assume in autumn, after having once 

 ceased. Their singing at that season is, as above 

 observed, very irregular ; and their notes often few 

 and desultory, as in young birds. Is it improbable 

 that the young cocks may be stimulated by a fine 

 autumn to try their powers before actually wanted ; 

 or that they may, oftener than old birds, feel prema- 

 turely those desires which are always the accompani- 



* See Lett. XL. to Pennant. 



