Page:The British Warblers A History with Problems of Their Lives - 9 of 9.djvu/31



A brief 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.