MIGRATION IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 293 



but of course we may just have missed them. An 

 example has been recorded from Paignton. 



We propose to bring the present chapter to a 

 conclusion by a brief record of the more familiar 

 ornithological events through the year, especially 

 in this particular part of Devonshire. The 

 phenomenally mild open climate of the county 

 makes its influence felt upon the birds as upon 

 all other living things. So gradually does autumn 

 merge into spring, that we can scarcely say the 

 habits of the birds in any way indicate the actual 

 change of year. We have none of those sharp 

 contrasts so prominent in the north ; there is a 

 wintry lull, and that is mostly all. Some of our 

 finest song-birds warble the entire winter through, 

 notably the Thrush, the Robin, the Wren, and the 

 Starling. In January our local Hedge Sparrows 

 pair, and towards the close of the month are in ex- 

 ceptionally fine voice, both these birds and Robins 

 beginning to warble before dawn. The Starling 

 also becomes unusually tuneful (although this 

 species is in large flocks their movements are 

 remarkably regular), as is also the Missel Thrush, 

 and less frequently the Sky Lark. In very mild 

 seasons we sometimes hear the Chaffinch by 



