MIGRATION IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 289 



Redstart again appears upon the coast, and the 

 flocks of Brent Geese pour down from the north. 

 Now also may we expect the large flocks of Lap- 

 wings, the odd Bitterns, Siskins, Great Grey 

 Shrikes, and Stone Curlews, that are sometimes a 

 winter feature in the annals of bird-life here. It is 

 a somewhat remarkable fact, however, in connection 

 with these stray winter visitors that the Waxwing 

 has not been known to visit the county for just 

 upon fifty years. Thus is the cycle of migration 

 in this southern county completed, although the 

 phenomenon is almost a perennial one in Devon ; 

 for we have odd Swallows with us well into 

 November, and Wheatears and ChiffchafFs back 

 again in March Spotted Flycatchers and Red- 

 backed Shrikes appearing as late as May, Swal- 

 lows still pursuing their northern flight in June, 

 and Common Sandpipers returning south in July. 



The rare abnormal avine visitors to the county 

 scarcely demand notice in a work of the present 

 character, but we may allude in passing to a few 

 of the most interesting. Devonshire has been 

 specially favoured by the visits of abnormal mi- 

 grants from America. Of these may be mentioned 

 the White-winged Crossbill, the American Bittern, 



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