INTIIODUCTION TO ^JATUKALTST^S CALENDAR. 317 
showing the influence, climate or the seasons may have in the distribu- 
tion of animal life. On the coast, it is also curious to mark the habits 
of the different sea-fowl previous to, or after the occurrence of a storm, 
or any marked change in the weather. 
Independent of regular migration, by which we mean the arrival of 
some birds (not at other seasons found in our islands) in spring, for 
the purpose of incubation, and then remaining with us during the 
summer months ; or the arrival of some birds in late autumn from 
another county, and remaining during the winter months, apparently 
to enjoy a larger supply of food and a milder climate, not afforded by 
their more northern summer quarters ; there are large accessions made 
to the numbers of some permanently resident birds, either altogether 
from another (jountry, or by a partial migration from one locality to 
another temporarily more suitable. In many districts, a large addition 
is received in autumn to the stock of our common thrush and blackbird. 
So is there also of the common snipe, in many places where it breeds 
and is permanently resident. They arrive before or about the usual 
migratory period, and are, probably, supplied both from abroad and 
from the more exposed districts of this country. Many of the hawks 
disappear altogether during spring and summer, seeking the wilder 
and more unfrequented grounds to breed and rear their young. They 
reappear again in their usual haunts about the middle or end of 
September. Along our shores and sea marshes, vast numbers of the 
plovers, sandpipers, curlews, &c., spend the winter, many of which have 
merely returned with their young from a more inland breeding resort. 
The numerous congregations of the young, in autumn, assembling in 
large flocks together, show another kind of migration, being very marked 
in the black and white wagtail, chaffinch, titmice, lapwing and other 
plovers, &c. A few species, again, which spend the whole season of 
incubation in other parts, are seen once or twice yearly for a short 
period only. The short- eared owl, which in some parts of England is 
met with regularly about the commencement of the winter migratory 
period, is in great part only on return from the more northern parts of 
this country, where it is known to breed. The ring ousel breeds in the 
alpine districts of England and Scotland, but it is only seen upon the 
English downs, and so often recorded by White, and among the moun- 
tain ash and cottage gardens in Scotland only for a few days, in going 
and returning to and from their breeding quarters. So it is with the 
common dotterel upon our lower moors, and large numbers of our sand- 
pipers, &c., are also only seen for a day or two, in similar circumstances. 
The periodical change of colour in the plumage of birds is often 
very marked ; it is incidental in great measure to the season of incu- 
bation, previous to which it gradually approaches completion ; and, as 
that important time arrives, it, along with the voice, obtains its fullest 
vigour, clearness and brilliancy, and the latter sometimes puts on changes 
of great contrast with the full and usually chaste winter garb. These 
changes are most characteristic and distinct in the waders, water fowl, 
and gallinaceous birds, and among these are almost general ; in other 
families, although a greater brilliancy always occurs, it is only in some 
that the changes are very marked. In some species these changes take 
