GENERAL SUMMARY AND CONCLUDING 

 REMARKS. 



A beief summary will be sufficient to recall some of the 

 more important points scattered throughout the preceding 

 life histories. Of the twenty-six species included in this 

 work, all, with the exception of the Dartford Warbler, are 

 migratory, and of the remainder, eleven visit us annually for 

 the purpose of reproduction. 



From about the middle of March until the latter part of 

 June individuals of one species or another continue to return 

 to these islands, the van of the advancing army being led 

 by- the Chiff-chaff, whilst the Marsh Warbler— the least 

 common — is the latest to appear in its accustomed breeding 

 haunts. In the case of every species the first arrivals are 

 males ; one instance only of a female returning to this 

 district before a male has come under my notice and is 

 referred to in the life of the Blackcap. The period of arrival 

 is protracted, varying in the case of different species, varying 

 too in the same species in different seasons, and though the 

 earlier arrivals are males, yet it cannot be said that there is 

 any definite division between the times of arrival of the sexes, 

 since the last of the males and the first of the females appear 

 approximately at the same time. It must, however, be 

 admitted that an element of uncertainty is here introduced 

 which varies in degree according to the locality wherein such 

 observations are made ; for inasmuch as every male cannot be 

 so fortunate as to secure a territory forthwith, some will be 

 compelled to wander in search of a home, and no one can 

 distinguish between such a wandering male and one that had 

 recently completed its migratory journey. 



