AUG. MIGRATORY BIRDS BUTTERFLIES. 267 



of the kingdom, as if in readiness to depart. The 

 wheatears almost entirely leave the wild rocky 

 mountains of the North, where they breed, and 

 are during this month caught in great numbers 

 on the south downs of Sussex. 



The regularity of the appearance and disappear- 

 ance of birds in different districts is one of the most 

 striking and interesting parts of their history, and 

 is a subject worthy of more attention than it has 

 hitherto received. It is well known to many 

 sportsmen that woodcocks appear in certain woods, 

 and even under certain holly bushes, or other fav- 

 ourite spots, on the same day of the same month, 

 year after year ; and in like manner and with equal 

 punctuality do numberless smaller birds, of less 

 notoriety and of less consequence to the sportsman, 

 make their annual Sittings northwards or south- 

 wards. On referring to notes which I have made 

 during several years, I find that I have seen many 

 migratory birds for the first time in each year, 

 on either the very same day of the month or 

 within one day of it. 



Even in the insect world the same punctuality in 

 their change of abode is kept up, and an observant 

 "out-of-door" entomologist will tell almost to a 

 day when any particular moth or butterfly will first 

 appear. The exclusiveness of some butterflies as 



