MIGRATION. 33 



turns to Norfolk with the leafing of the hazel, and the 

 nightingale with the leafing of the sycamore. It has also 

 been observed, that the cuckoo sings when the marsh-mari- 

 gold bloAvs. It would tend greatly to increase our know- 

 ledge of this subject, were observations of this sort multi- 

 plied. We earnestly recommend the subject to the atten- 

 tion of the practical naturalist. 



Having thus offered a few observations on the periods 

 of arrival and departure of migrating birds, let us now 

 enquire after the places from whence they come^ and to 

 •which they return. In doing this, it will be proper to 

 bestow some attention on the migrations of those birds 

 which merely shift from one part of the island to ano- 

 ther. The movements of such birds, though confined 

 within narrow bounds, are probably regulated by the same 

 laws, which, in the other species, produce more extensive 

 migrations, and have the obvious advantage of being easily 

 investigated. 



In the inland districts of Scotland, the lapAvings make 

 their appearance about the end of February or the be- 

 ginning of March, and, after fulfilling the purposes of 

 incubation, hasten to the sea-shore, there to spend the 

 winter, and to support themselves by picking up the small 

 Crustacea from among the rejectamenta of the sea. These 

 birds seldom, however, remain all winter on the Scot- 

 tish shores, though they are always to be found at 

 that season on the southern English shores. In tiiat 

 part of the island they do not jierform such extensive 

 migrations, but may with propriety be considered as re- 

 sident birds. The curlew arrives at the inland districts 

 along with the lapwing, arid departs in company about 

 the beginning of August. The curlew, however, remains 

 on the Scottish shores during the winter. The oyster- 

 catcher, though it breeds in Scotland, retires to the English 



VOL. II. c 



