MIGRATION. 249 



circumstances. Of these may be mentioned, in our 

 country, the curlew and golden plover, which in 

 winter reside chiefly along the shores, while in 

 summer they betake themselves to the inland lakes 

 and moors; the lapwing, which seems to move north- 

 ward in winter; the linnet, which in that season 

 deserts the hilly regions and approaches the habita- 

 tions of man ; and the dipper, which in summer 

 ascends the streams towards their sources. These 

 partial migrations seem to be determined partly by 

 the state of the weather, and partly by the necessity 

 of retiring to less frequented places for the purpose of 

 incubation. 



When the primrose, the daisy, the violet, and other 

 early flowers make their appearance, we begin to 

 look for the return from southern climes of those 

 birds which we are accustomed to observe during the 

 summer months. The wheat-ear is seen on the wall 

 tops and sandy downs, the whin-chat among the 

 thickets of furze, and the ring-ouzel in the hilly dis- 

 tricts. As the season advances, when the hawthorn 

 displays its fresh young leaflets, and the sloe is 

 covered with a profusion of sweet white flowers, the 

 different species of swallows enliven the air, seen at 

 at first one by one, or in small numbers in sheltered 

 places, but soon swarming over the meadows and the 

 groves. The shrill scream of the swift, as it wheels 

 its rapid flight over the houses, next informs us that 

 summer is about to commence. Then is heard from 

 the wood or the hill-side the well-known cry of the 

 cuckoo, and in the quiet evening the singular crake 

 of the land-rail issues from among the long grass of 

 the dank meadows. By this time numerous warblers 

 have arrived the nightingale, the redstart, the 

 black-cap, the willow-wren, and other species which 

 nestle in the gardens, hedges, and groves. These 

 birds remain with us during the fine season, rear 



