102 MIGRATION AND FLIGHT. 



that the Woodcock leaves us early in the spring for 

 the marshes or heaths of Norway, when England 

 and Scotland, even now, might provide spots as 

 solitary and appropriate as the most timid bird 

 could desire? Is it to feed on our comparatively 

 scanty supply of gnats and midges, and other small 

 insects of the air, that a certain number of the 

 Swallow tribes tarry in Britain during the summer 

 season, when Sweden and Norway could provide, in 

 tenfold quantities, insects of this sort for every 

 Swallow, and Martin, and Swift in Europe ? When 

 the Redwing and Fieldfare quit this country, it 

 often abounds with that food which they prefer to 

 any other, and at the time of their departure they 

 are in the finest condition. Again, the younger 

 birds, in many cases, do not depart at the same time j 

 and when they do, it has been ascertained that they 

 frequently do not go so far as the old ones. Other 

 birds, again, which in some places are constantly to 

 be found, will in others disappear for a certain time, 

 and then return without any discoverable cause. 

 Thus, the Kingfisher, which in the northern part 

 of England may be seen all the year round, on some 

 parts of the southern coasts only makes its appear- 

 ance in October in considerable numbers, and as 

 regularly departs in the following spring. Few 

 would suspect our constant and lively companions, 

 the Jays and Chaffinches, to be at times travellers, 

 but so it is, there is proof of the fact. 



Some gentlemen near Tunstall, in Suffolk, who 

 were out shooting, about' five miles from the sea, 

 observed an extraordinary flight of Jays passing in a 

 single line from seaward towards the interior. The 



