XI Departing Birds : an Epilogue 273 



small orchard in a neighbouring village crowded with 

 them ; and no doubt this was a detachment resting 

 for the night, which would proceed on its way early 

 next morning. 



The following year, 1889, I discovered that 

 Swanage is an even better place than Lulworth for 

 "taking the auspices" in the autumn. On the 6th 

 of October, just before the Oxford term began, I was 

 able to pay a hurried visit to Swanage to see an old 

 pupil, whose family understand and indulge my 

 proclivities with most hospitable kindness. When 

 on the morning of the following day I reached the 

 coast near Durlstone Point, I found the Swallow 

 migration still going on, for a small party soon 

 passed me and disappeared in an easterly direction. 

 As they vanished the question occurred to me — 

 What will they do when they reach the point where 

 the coast turns northward at a sharp right angle ? 

 Will they follow it, or will they cross the sea to the 

 Isle of Wight, or is this perhaps a point at which 

 they boldly strike across to France? It began to 

 dawn upon me, in fact, that this sudden turn in the 

 line of the coast would surely raise a question in the 

 minds of the birds as well as in mine, and I was 

 extremely curious to see what they would do. 



The question was soon answered. Walking nearer 

 to Durlstone Point, I watched for another party, 

 which was not long in coming. They passed by me, 



T 



