INTRODUCTION TO NATURALIST'S CALENDAR. 317 



showing the influence, climate or the seasons may have in the distribu- 

 tion of animal life. On the coast, it is also curious to mark the habits 

 of the different sea-fowl previous to, or after the occurrence of a storm, 

 or any marked change in the weather. 



Independent of regular migration, by which we mean the arrival of 

 some birds (not at other seasons found in our" islands) in spring, for 

 the purpose of incubation, and then remaining with us during the 

 summer months ; or the arrival of some birds in late autumn from 

 another county, and remaining during the winter months, apparently 

 to enjoy a larger supply of food and a milder climate, not afforded by 

 their more northern summer quarters ; there are large accessions made 

 to the numbers of some permanently resident birds, either altogether 

 from another country, or by a partial migration from one locality to 

 another temporarily more suitable. In many districts, a large addition 

 is received in autumn to the stock of our common thrush and blackbird. 

 So is there also of the common snipe, in many places where it breeds 

 and is permanently resident. They arrive before or about the usual 

 migratory period, and are, probably, supplied both from abroad and 

 from the more exposed districts of this country. Many of the hawks 

 disappear altogether during spring and summer, seeking the wilder 

 and more unfrequented grounds to breed and rear their young. They 

 reappear again in their usual haunts about the middle or end of 

 September. Along our shores and sea marshes, vast numbers of the 

 plovers, sandpipers, curlews, &c., spend the winter, many of which have 

 merely returned with their young from a more inland breeding resort. 

 The numerous congregations of the young, in autumn, assembling in 

 large flocks together, show another kind of migration, being very marked 

 in the black and white wagtail, chaffinch, titmice, lapwing and other 

 plovers, &c. A few species, again, which spend the whole season of 

 incubation in other parts, are seen once or twice yearly for a short 

 period only. The short-eared owl, which in some parts of England is 

 met with regularly about the commencement of the winter migratory 

 period, is in great part only on return from the more northern parts of 

 this country, where it is known to breed. The ring ousel breeds in the 

 alpine districts of England and Scotland, but it is only seen upon the 

 English downs, and so often recorded by White, and among the moun- 

 tain ash and cottage gardens in Scotland only for a few days, in going 

 and returning|to and from their breeding quarters. So it is with the 

 common dotterel upon our lower moors, and large numbers of our sand- 

 pipers, &c., are also only seen for a day or two, in similar circumstances. 



The periodical change of colour in the plumage of birds is often 

 very marked ; it is incidental in great measure to the season of incu- 

 bation, previous to which it gradually approaches completion ; and, as 

 that important time arrives, it, along with the voice, obtains its fullest 

 vigour, clearness and brilliancy, and the latter sometimes puts on changes 

 of great contrast with the full and usually chaste winter garb. These 

 changes are most characteristic and distinct in the waders, waterfowl, 

 and gallinaceous birds, and among these are almost general ; in other 

 families, although a greater brilliancy always occurs, it is only in some 

 that the changes are very marked. In some species these changes take 



