Migration in the Northern Shires. 



less marked than it is in many of the southern 

 counties, especially as regards our normal summer 

 migrants. It is, on the other hand, more emphasized 

 in connection with the spring departure of birds 

 that breed in northerly or easterly localities beyond 

 the British area, and also perhaps in so far as it 

 relates to the coasting migration of certain species. 

 Here in the northern shires, as elsewhere, the first 

 indication of migratory movement among the birds 

 is the departure of some of the species that have 

 been spending the winter in them. But so far as 

 South Yorkshire is concerned, perhaps we ought to 

 say that migration is absolutely initiated by the 

 return of the Song Thrush at the end of January or 

 early in February, and of many Blackbirds at the 

 beginning of the latter month individuals breeding 

 in this district, but leaving it in November. The 

 movement may be small and comparatively unim- 

 portant, nevertheless it is to be remarked by the 

 careful observer of birds. There is also some slight 

 movement north or north-east of the Redwing and 

 the Fieldfare; whilst Song Thrushes and Blackbirds 

 that have been wintering in the southern portions 

 of our islands begin to migrate towards continental 

 and perhaps North British haunts. The same re- 

 marks also apply to the Robin, the Greenfinch, the 

 Linnet, the Chaffinch, the Tree Sparrow, 1 the Snow 



1 We say nothing about the migrations of the House Sparrow, because at 



