MIGRATIONS OF EUROPEAN BIRDS. 
331 
pact eristic call-note. We have watched them approaching Malta 
during the calm and delightful weather at that season^ when a 
few attracted by the verdure would break off from the rest and 
descend^ whilst the majority continued steering their course 
in a northerly direction. Luckless is the bird wanderer that 
makes a temporary resting-place of Malta at any time_, espe- 
cially on Sunday for no sooner is an individual recognized 
than a dozen guns are put in requisition^ and soon the fair 
forms of the bee-eater^ oriole^ &c._, are seen stretched in rows 
on the benches of the poulterer. The weird-like form of the 
hoopoe may constantly be seen drifting before a south wind 
in springs or hastening southwards in August_, seldom in flocks_, 
but so numerous that on one occasion_, on a projecting rock in 
the island of Gozo^ we saw in the course of half an hour no 
less than ten hoopoes arrive_, one after another. None of the 
woodpeckers, neither the creeper, nuthatch, nor the wren seem 
to migrate. The warblers, no doubt, constitute by far the 
greatest majority of the birds of passage, and may be said to 
be most punctual in their time of arrival and departure. As 
with other groups, many entirely abandon their summer or 
winter residences at the migratory seasons, whilst others leave 
a few stragglers behind. The sedge, willow, garden, the 
chiffchaff, whitethroat, Sardinian, Dartford, sub-alpine, 
Yieillot^s warblers, and the blackcap annually cross and 
recross the Mediterranean with undeviating regularity, some 
in enormous numbers, especially the garden warbler and 
whitethroat, which being then plump and in good condition 
are in great request, and constitute the Italian's much relished 
heccafico. The nightingale appears in considerable numbers 
and shares the same fate with the last-named species. The 
two redstarts, wheatear, whin, and stone- chats, with the red- 
breast, come and go to Africa regularly, leaving a few strag- 
glers on the islands during winter, which, however, unite with 
their brethren from North Africa in spring, when all proceed 
to Europe. The blue-throated warbler repairs to Egypt in 
winter, from the south-eastern countries of Europe and western 
Asia. A small migration takes place of the russet and eared 
wheat-ears annually to southern Europe in summer, and back 
again to the African deserts in autumn. As the song thrush 
and blackbird are plentiful throughout the year aloug the Atlas 
range, it is probable few of them return in spring, and what- 
ever do cross in autumn and winter remain with the 
residents. The golden oriole passes through Malta regularly 
on its way northwards, and in small flocks returns to Africa 
immediately after the harvest and fruit are collected in 
autumn. The ring ousel is also migratory, and although 
a few missel thrushes and redwings appear on the islands and 
southern shores during the cold season neither can strictly 
