84 INTRODUCTION. 



how pour down upon the south of England ; as the climate 

 in the north becomes not only too cold for them, but it does 

 not, most probably, supply them with a sufficient quantity 

 of food. Hence the very common, and generally true ob« 

 servation, that the early arrival of wild geese, wild ducks, 

 and other migratory birds, from the north, in the winter, 

 portends that a severe season is approaching; the early 

 appearance of these birds being, most likely, caused by 

 severe frost having already set in at their usual summer 

 residence. 



The chief migratory summer birds found in England, 

 and which, most probably, come from the warmer regions 

 of Europe or Asia, or the yet more warm ones of Africa, 

 are, the Cuckoo, the Nightingale, all the Swallow tribe, the 

 Wry-neck, the Wheatear, the Black-cap, the Fly -catcher, 

 the Willow-wren, the White-throat, the Goat-sucker, and the 

 Land-rail. The Auk, the Guillemot, and Puffin, also visit 

 the maritime cliffs of Great Britain in the summer. 



The chief migratory birds which visit England during 

 the winter, and which come most probably from the north 

 of Scotland, or from the still colder regions of Lapland, 

 Norw r ay, and other parts of Northern Europe, are, the 

 the Hooded or Royston Croiv, the Woodcock, (believed also 

 to come sometimes from North America, but this is ques- 

 tionable,) the Fieldfare, the Ring-ouzel, the Redwing, the 

 Snipe, the Jack Snipe, the Curlew, the Plover, Sandpiper, 

 &c. Of the Duck tribe, such as Wild Ducks, Wild Geese, 

 Widgeon, Teal, Swans, &c. ; some occasionally breed in 

 England, the Tadorna or Sheldrake very commonly, but by 

 far the greater part retire to remote places and inaccessible 

 rocks, to Scotland or to some still more distant region, to 

 perform the important functions of incubation and rearing 

 their young, in retirement and security. Some of these 



