LINES OF MIGRATION. Ixv 



o£ Brent Goose on our soutli coast, the White-bellied or 

 Atlantic form being extremely rare. Some Limicolse follow 

 all along the shores of the south-east and south coast of 

 England in autumn. 

 Many summer migrants arrive on our south coast, some ap- 

 parently comiug directly across the Channel from Cap de la 

 Hague, from ^hich the Start Point is distant about 80 miles. The 

 Wheatear,Whinchat, Common Redstart (in part), Willow-Warbler, 

 Chiflchaff, W^hitethroat (in part). Blackcap, Wagtails, Pipits, Bed- 

 backed Shrike, SAvallovv, House-Martin (in part), Sand-Martin, 

 Bose-coloured Pastor, Swift, Hoopoe, Roller, Bee-eater, Wryneck, 

 Turtle Dove, Stone-Curlew, Little Bustard, and Little Bittern appear 

 to reach us by this route, all either having been seen coming in from 

 the sea or having been taken on board ships in the Channel ; but as 

 some of them are in an exhausted condition when they first arrive 

 we think it most probable that they cross the Bay of Biscay. 



A stream of migrants coming from Africa euters France by the 

 Gulf of Lions, and crossing by the valley of the Garonne to the 

 Bay of Biscay, and skirting the French north- \\ est coast, reaches 

 our shores by this longer sea route. Some birds may even come 

 directly to us from North-western Africa, skirting the coasts of 

 Spain and Portugal, and crossing the Bay of Biscay. The fact 

 that many summer birds are seen off the western coasts of Spain 

 in April appears to us to confirm this, and a Green-backed Por- 

 phyrio was brought in alive to Plymouth on board a vessel. 



Limicolce coming from the south in spring seem to pass up both 

 the English and St. George's Channels. The Whimbrel is an 

 instance of this — appearing almost simultaneously on our north 

 and south coasts. 



Phalaropcs and Skuas we think keep to the west of Ireland when 

 they return northwards in spring, as we sec but little of them at 

 that season. 



Some species, we believe, reach us by more than one route, 

 according to the character of the season and the prevailing winds. 

 The Cuckoo is sometimes heard to the north of Dartmoor before 

 it has arrived at Exraouth. The House-Martin has been seen by 

 Mr. Gatcombc ccnning in from the sea at Plymouth, and we have 

 observed it migrating in small parties in spring coming from the 

 north-cast ; and vast nurnljcrs appeared at Barnstnple in May 



