90 BIRDS OF THE HUMBER DISTRICT. 



The spring migration northward takes place in 

 March, rarely later than the end of that month. In 

 the cold spring of 1870, large flocks wearing the 

 nuptial dress frequented the marshes to the middle 

 of the first week in April. The latest occasions I 

 have noted them in this district were : in 1865, on the 

 18th of April a pair ; on the 25th of that month in 

 1870, a single bird ; and on May 10th, 1862, likewise 

 a single bird. 



In the cold spring of 1871 some small "trips " re- 

 mained up to the last week in April ; and in the same 

 season I noticed seven birds near the embankment on 

 the 2nd of May*. 



Golden Plovers assume the summer dress very 

 early in the season ; we occasionally find birds with 

 the black breast greatly developed by the second week 

 in February ; and from this date up to the time of 

 their departure, specimens in every state of plumage, 



* It must be borne in mind that it is always difficult to fix 

 the exact time of departure of our shore birds, and almost im- 

 possible for one observer to do so along an extensive seaboard, 

 as they may have altogether disappeared at one part of the 

 coast and not in another. In every case in this notice, I have 

 given the average period when the main body of each species 

 leaves us in this locality, based on almost daily observation, 

 taken during many years at the time of the spring migrations. 

 A few specimens, however, of nearly all our common shore 

 birds may generally be found on some part or other of our coast 

 after the dates I have given for the departure of the main body. 

 In some cases birds remain all through the summer, some of 

 which, doubtless from having been wounded in the winter, are 

 prevented from accomplishing the migratory flight. 



