Migration in the Northern Shires. 279 



for the large flat turnip-fields just over the earth- 

 works. Then perhaps the warbling cry of the 

 Sky-lark would sound from the still dusky sky 

 the note of tired pilgrims that had been winging 

 their way across the wild sea whilst men slept, 

 and music which never failed to inspire a feeling 

 of sympathy in us. Poor tired and hungry little 

 birds we always wished them well. Sometimes 

 we should find the bushes and even the long 

 grass on the banks crowded with tired Goldcrests; 

 some of them, poor little mites, so weary that we 

 have stood and watched them sitting fast asleep or 

 swaying on the twigs utterly overcome with fatigue 

 and hunger, quite exhausted and apparently indif- 

 ferent to their own safety any longer. Then on 

 some lowering November afternoon an occasional 

 flock of Snow Buntings would suddenly appear on 

 the wild salt-marshes, little strangers from an ice- 

 bound region far away to the north. They would 

 settle upon the weed-grown places, or perhaps 

 amongst the drift and tangled sea-weed upon the 

 shore, and there busily search for food. On other 

 days, earlier in the autumn, vast flights of Finches 

 would arrive, and occasionally immense numbers of 

 such familiar species as Hedge Accentors, Redwings, 

 and Fieldfares; whilst far overhead at intervals dur- 

 ing the short autumn days, company after company 

 of Golden Plovers would be noted either flying down 



