172 ANNALS OF BIRD LIFE. 



of this species are seen in various wild corners of 

 our southern counties, both in spring and autumn, 

 and a few stray pairs breed in Devonshire and on 

 the Welsh mountains ; but the great summer haunt 

 of the Ring Ousel does not reach south of Derby- 

 shire. The Cuckoo has now left the moorlands, 

 August and ari( ^ after loafing about the lowlands for a day or 

 September. ^ sets off io Africa< The Merlins have retired 



wheatears to the lower grounds ; the Wheatears and 

 September. Whinchats have commenced their long southern 

 journey, the former birds gradually gathering into 

 enormous flocks as they reach the Downs ; and 

 the Red Grouse, the Ptarmigan and the Eagle are 

 almost the only birds left upon the highest uplands. 

 Autumn is the season for many birds to gather 

 into flocks for the winter ; solitary birds become 

 gregarious, and most species now display an 

 amount of sociability they never indulge in at any 

 other season. These large flocks are composed 

 principally of the young birds hatched the previous 

 season, and their parents. Another marked and 

 important feature of bird life in autumn, is the 

 gathering together of many of our migratory birds, 

 previous to taking their departure. In the early 

 Swallows September days, we see the Swallows and Martins 



and Martins . . . 



congregating in vast companies at certain well 





October, recognised points of meeting. One of these 

 places of which I have a vivid remembrance, was 

 an old flour mill, at the back of which was a large 

 dam whence the supply of water was obtained. 

 Every autumn the Swallows and Martins congre- 



