CALENDAR OF ORNITHOLOGY FOR 1849. 
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 unfre- 
quented 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, 
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 ill 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 Scot- 
land, but is only seen upon the English downs, and among the 
mountain ash trees and cottage gardens in Scotland, 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 sandpipers, &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 
veiy maiked, it is incidental in great measure to the season of 
incubation previous to which it gradually approaches completion; 
Sin?> fu 1 T° rtant time arrives > along with the voice, 
i s ullest vigour, clearness and brilliancy, and sometimes 
\ vi 1 1 1 r ■ i' ' r l i *1 1 ' i ° gr , eat contrast "'ith the full and usually chaste 
the wade.- ies e elianges are most characteristic and distinct in 
are IlnZ " l ^hnaceous birds, and among these 
always occurs ^ ’ "'l ° th<3r fanillles > though a greater brilliancy 
In some suer ' ' i' 0> ', ' 111 sorae that the changes are very marked. 
“ 22 P the Chan ^ e take. Place by a loss of some parts of 
