BRITISH BIRDS IN PLAINS OF INDIA 7 

 places. It is by no means always easy to determine 

 whether any particular species is a migrant one or not. 

 The mere fact that specimens of it are seen in any 

 given place at all seasons of the year is not sufficient to 

 prove that it is non-migratory. For the birds of a 

 species we saw six months ago are not necessarily the 

 same ones that we have with us to-day. To take a 

 concrete example, the crested lark (Galerita cristata) is 

 found in Lahore all the year round, but is far more 

 plentiful in summer than in winter, which is the only 

 time when it is seen in England. The species is 

 therefore a migratory one. 



The general rule as regards migratory birds is that 

 they breed in the north and then go south for a season 

 to enjoy themselves. Great Britain is further north 

 than India and has a much colder climate, hence we 

 should expect birds to crowd to India for the pleasant 

 cold weather and go to England for the genial summer. 

 This does happen to a large extent. Yet there are 

 surprisingly few birds which winter in India and 

 summer in England. The only common ones that I 

 can call to mind are the wagtails, the pipits, and the 

 quail (Coturnix communis). There are two reasons for 

 this. The first is that migration takes place in a more 

 or less northerly and southerly direction, and the 

 British Isles are not due north of India. The second 

 reason is that England is a long way south of the Arctic 

 Circle. Its winter is therefore not cold enough for the 

 taste of many birds. Geese, ducks, and snipe are cold- 

 loving creatures. Their idea of nice mild weather is 

 the English winter ! In order to avoid anything in the 



