129 



arrived in ^-reat numbers along the south coast from Devon 

 to Hampshire. Thence they spread north and east throu.2;h- 

 out the entire Midlands, while a few stragglers reached 

 York, Durham, and Westmoreland. On the 7th some were 

 observed to be building in Essex and others to have settled 

 in Durham. 



Between the 6th and 9th immigrants were hard to trace, 

 but there could be no doubt that during those days manv 

 arrived on the south-west coast and apparently passed 

 northwards. 



On the 11th and 14th a,Jifth immigration arrived in Devon 

 and Hampshire, and, travelling in a north-easterly direction, 

 was recorded from the eastern counties, whence the birds 

 presumably crossed to the continent. 



On the 21st there was a sLvtJi small immio-ration alono- the 

 whole of the south coast, the birds moving northwards 

 through the country. 



A seventh small immigration was recorded as having 

 arrived in Kent on the 25th, but this was probably the 

 right wing of a small scattered immigration extending along 

 the whole of the south coast. It evidentlj^ passed north 

 in an easterly direction, for a decrease was noted in 

 the south-west and an increase throughout the rest of the 

 country. 



On the 27th and 28th an eiglitli body of birds arrived in 

 the south-west and passed northwards, apparently without 

 stopping. 



To sum up, eight distinct immigrations of this species 

 could be traced and appear to have arrived chiefly on the 

 coast between Devon and Hampshire. The main body of 

 our breeding-birds arrived in great numbers during the 

 first week in May. Previous to that date one or two 

 immigrations had passed through the country ; the first, 

 on the 13th of April, went straight up the west of England 

 into Scotland, while part of the third apparently passed 

 throuo-h the eastern counties to the continent. 



