MIGRATION ON THE COAST. 287 



particular species becomes exceptionally marked, 

 the migration then gradually falling off almost, if 

 not quite, as imperceptibly as it commenced. 



We now propose briefly to sketch a few of the 

 more salient features of migration on the coast, 

 during spring and autumn. If the weather be 

 favourable, the spring migration of some birds 

 commences in February. The species moving at 

 that early date are birds that we have in the 

 British Isles all the year round, such as Thrushes, 

 Hedge Sparrows, Titmice, Wrens, Finches, Bunt- 

 ings, Jays, Rooks, and Carrion Crows. The diffi- 

 culty in distinguishing migrating individuals of 

 these species from others that are sedentary, is 

 sufficiently great to render the movement unseen, 

 except, perhaps, to experts, or to the keepers of light 

 vessels off the coast. The observations of these 

 men, however, prove that these birds actually pass 

 from our islands to the Continent from that date 

 onwards. These birds all migrate nearly due east. 

 The next birds to leave their winter quarters in 

 Britain are those whose line of migration extends 

 north-east, and amongst these we must include such 

 familiar species as Blackbirds, Robins, Goldcrests, 

 Greenfinches, Chaffinches, Starlings, Hooded Crows, 

 Jackdaws, Ring Doves, and Lapwings. For quite 

 a couple of months these species continue to 

 leave us for Continental breeding-grounds, and 

 their presence on the coast, during early spring, is 

 an unfailing sign of their departure. Then comes 



