AUTUMN MIGRANTS 167 



many months' absence, but we did not see them arrive. 

 Only from some rocky headland in the south-western 

 extremity of the country we may see a few pelagic 

 species returning from the Atlantic and the Mediter- 

 ranean seas to their ancient breeding haunts on our 

 coast. Gannets sweeping by in wide curves, bird 

 following bird, an endless procession; guillemots, 

 razor-bills and puffins in black and white strings 

 flying close to the surface, and shearwaters dashing 

 by with wild, erratic flight. 



But it is chiefly in the autumn that I watch the 

 migrants; the swallows congregating, often many 

 days before departure, flying south in flocks and 

 settling down in a reed-bed or thick wood at sunset 

 to roost. Then for days and weeks flying up and 

 down the south coast from Kent to Cornwall, as if 

 searching for a suitable crossing-place. 



Again, one notes that from the end of August 

 onwards passerine birds are mysteriously decreasing 

 in numbers, and that species after species disappear 

 entirely. We see them concentrating in immense 

 numbers on the south coast. Wheat-ears are abundant 

 on the South Downs, coming in from all over the land; 

 while on the downs and the maritime district between 

 the downs and the sea, you find flocks of wagtails 

 of all species; meadow pipits in small companies; 

 stonechats in half-dozens; linnets in hundreds and 

 thousands, and many other species, all resting from 

 their journey or deterred by the sight of the cold 

 grey water before them. By-and-by they vanish, 

 having taken their departure on some early morning. 



