50 STUDIES IN BIRD-MIGRATION 



tion. On this account thousands of the migrants which 

 resort to these miles of precipitous cliffs entirely bafifle 

 the efforts of the most assiduous and venturesome of 

 watchers. The only places where one can get a peep 

 at them are on the very limited portion of the cliffs 

 which flank the geos, but even there one sees the 

 merest fraction of those present. What one does 

 witness, however, is of great interest, for it demonstrates 

 the hardships incurred, and the shifts for a living that 

 have to be resorted to by birds during their migratory 

 flights. On these rocky fastnesses, Goldcrests may be 

 watched creeping in numbers on the faces of the gaunt 

 lichen-spangled precipices in the pursuit of food, and, 

 if near enough, may be heard uttering the while their 

 feeble notes, which strike one as savouring of irritability 

 — perhaps a natural reflection of their feelings on finding 

 themselves committed to such very unusual hunting- 

 grounds. Redstarts and Flycatchers (Common, Pied, 

 and rarely Red-breasted), Wheatears, Pipits (Meadow 

 and Tree), hitherto unseen, may be observed darting 

 out from these retreats to capture some insect on the 

 wing ; and Thrushes, Redwings, Blackbirds, and Ring- 

 Ouzels seen hopping about in search for what they can 

 find (there are no mollusca), to allay the cravings of 

 hunger. 



While the corn (here and oats) is standing, it 

 harbours various species of Warblers, and is the 

 favourite retreat of the Ortolan Bunting. When it is 

 cut, the stubbles afford suitable and much-frequented 

 haunts for the different species of Finches and Buntings, 

 and for the ubiquitous Twite, which is to be found 

 there in thousands. Associating with the latter, most 

 unfortunately, are several other species of the finch 



