178 ANNALS OF BIRD LIFE. 



both in the time of its appearance and in the dis- 

 tricts it frequents, being greatly influenced in the 

 latter habit by the abundance or rarity of beech 

 " mast." Both Bramblings and Redwings frequent 

 the fields in the daytime, . especially those where 

 manure is being spread, and seek the evergreens 

 Rooks re- at dusk. An interesting habit of the Rook in 

 nests, 5 th autumn must not be overlooked. The naturalist 



September. 



will find that the birds belonging to most if not all 

 of the smaller rookeries desert them shortly after 

 the young can fly, and often join the members of 

 the larger colonies, never going near them again 

 until the autumn has commenced. Then they visit 

 them day by day, generally arriving each succes- 

 sive morning, almost to the minute, at one par- 

 ticular time. 



Some of the most familiar birds of the commons 



and the open heaths quit them in autumn for more 



sheltered districts, or retire across the sea to 



warmer lands. One of the most familiar of the 



Ss tjar 22 nd latter class of birds is the Nightjar, which loses 



September, fa summer SO ng just previous to moulting, and as 



soon as that period is passed this species begins 



its migration to Africa. One of the earlier birds 



depart 7 th to leave in autumn is the Swift. These curious 



ber - and interesting birds are particularly active during 



the calm, warm evenings of July and August, 



sweeping round the lofty towers and circling high 



in air above the pools and meadows, uttering 



their shrill whistling cries as they toy with and 



chase each other to and fro. The young birds 



