THE WHEATEAR. 177 



together contiguous to the sea, near Belfast, on the 3rd of April, 

 1836, and as the species is not disposed to congregate with us, it 

 was thought that they had probably come hither in company, and 

 had not long arrived. 



Mr. Yarrell mentions their coming from the southward to 

 England about the middle of March, which is also the period 

 named by Mr. Selby as that of their arrival, (it may be presumed,) 

 in Northumberland. But contrary to the habit of other species 

 of migratory birds, it appears that they arrive at an earlier period 

 in Scotland, than in England or Ireland. Sir Wm. Jardine in- 

 forms us, that they are met with in the pastoral districts in the 

 first week of March, and one was seen by Mr. Macgillivray near 

 Edinburgh, on the 28th of February. The period of their stay 

 in Scotland is not mentioned by these authors. Erom the district 

 of Aberarder, Inverness-shire, I can state from personal know- 

 ledge, that they had generally taken their departure previous to 

 the 1st of September, 1842, as during that month, two individuals 

 only appeared, one on the 16th, and another on the 28th of the 

 month. 



From the counties of Down and Antrim, they migrate very early ; 

 the mountain pastures, marine sand-hills, and turf bogs, which 

 through the summer have been enlivened by their presence, being 

 often found wholly deserted by the end of August : a few, chiefly 

 single birds, have however, in some places, come under my notice 

 until the first week of October. I have not heard of the occurrence 

 of the species in Ireland during winter, though such might be ex- 

 pected, as White of Selborne tells us, that " in many parts of the 

 south of England" (p. 257, &c. edit. 1837,) wheatears have been 

 seen at that season. But the numbers of these birds which, in the 

 autumn, visit the southern part of that country, are vastly greater 

 than can be found in any part of Ireland. Mr. J. Y. Stewart, writing 

 of the north-west of Donegal, informs us, that " the old wheatears, 

 which are among our first spring visitants, take their departure from 

 this place soon after the young ones can provide for themselves." It 

 is added, that " this may account for what White mentions — 

 their being found about this period in great numbers on the downs 



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