IN DEVONSHIRE LANES. 223 



quite alone, and never once uttered a note. I also 

 remarked a solitary Grasshopper Warbler. With 

 the exception of the Redstarts, which uttered their 

 Chaffinch-like call-note, these migrants were remark- 

 ably silent. It is very possible that none of them 

 indulge in song until the usual breeding-stations 

 are reached." 



One very remarkable fact about these periodical 

 arrivals of migrants is, that the birds rarely stay 

 more than a day in any particular district. More 

 especially is this the case with the later arrivals of 

 species that appear early in our islands and remain 

 here in Devonshire to breed. The earlier indi- 

 viduals soon spread over their accustomed haunts ; 

 these later bands are chiefly composed of individuals 

 that breed in more northerly areas, and merely rest 

 in our lanes apparently to gain strength ere passing 

 on again. Thus the lanes that swarm with the 

 migrant hosts one day are generally deserted to a 

 bird the next. The pilgrim crowds have passed on 

 during the interval of darkness, and we see them no 

 more. I have also remarked that these bird-waves 

 have frequently coincided with great rushes of 

 migrants at the Eddystone Lighthouse, whilst the 

 coasts for many miles have exhibited an abnormal 

 number of birds, one very convincing proof of the 



