. Studies in bird migration . e Bluethroat,Thrush, Blackbird—indeed, the majority of the arrivals(I allude to the autumn)—are either in hiding among theturnips, potatoes, and standing corn of the crofts, or arequite beyond the range of observation on the face ofthe great cliffs. The crofts are the great hunting-grounds, andfortunately my numerous friends among the islandershave most kindly permitted me to search their cultivatedground. If this great privilege had been denied, thelabours of myself and my coadjutors would have beenwell-nigh in vain. The crofts require to be searchedin a most tho
. Studies in bird migration . e Bluethroat,Thrush, Blackbird—indeed, the majority of the arrivals(I allude to the autumn)—are either in hiding among theturnips, potatoes, and standing corn of the crofts, or arequite beyond the range of observation on the face ofthe great cliffs. The crofts are the great hunting-grounds, andfortunately my numerous friends among the islandershave most kindly permitted me to search their cultivatedground. If this great privilege had been denied, thelabours of myself and my coadjutors would have beenwell-nigh in vain. The crofts require to be searchedin a most thorough and systematic manner, for thebirds, being more or less exhausted by their long flightovernight, lie very close among the variety of cover theyafford and are not easily discovered. When disturbed,the migrants only fly a few yards ere they drop intocover aeain—a trait which makes their identificationa matter of great difficulty, for one only gets a hurriedglimpse of them, and this, too, amid very unusual platp: Vol. IL] [To face p. 48. FAIR ISLE, TIIK iniHISII HELIGOLAND 49 surroundings. However, in time one becomes more orless familiar with most species, and readily detects astranger—but only as a stranger, until it has beenbrought to hand : one must shoot in such cases ; if not,the identity of some of the visitors would remain amystery. Those who have not engaged in this kindof bird-work have little idea how puzzling it is toidentify common species under such very unusualconditions. Indeed, quite familiar species are notimmediately recognised, unless they possess some verymarked diagnostic character. The immigrants, too,are, with few exceptions, such as the Thrushes, remark-ably silent. During the spring movements, however,I have on several occasions heard some of thetravelling birds (the Willow-Warbler, Whinchat, andRing-Ouzel) indulge in a few notes of a very subduedsong—one or two birds only out of thousands. The great cliffs, more particularly the west
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