Page:The Zoologist, 1st series, vol 1 (1843).djvu/342

314 temporary abode of these islands, coincide with the periods in which they arrive at, or depart from, more northern climes.

Sonnini, a French naturalist, who resided for some time in Egypt and the Levant, and who seems to have paid some attention to the subject of migration, speaks decidedly with regard to the temporary stay made by some of our summer visitants in the Greek islands, at such times. In his 'Travels in Greece and Turkey' (ii. c. 30), he says,—"The flycatcher (Muscicapa grisola) makes its appearance in the Greek islands of the Archipelago, about the middle of August."

And again,—"The bee-eaters make their appearance in Autumn, and repass in spring:" the same is said of the cuckoo and the wheatear.

"The oriole arrives in the beginning of August, feeding on figs, and is called by the Greeks Sycophagos. The passage of the orioles scarcely lasts till the month of September; the greater part proceed to Lower Egypt, where they in like manner seek fig-trees as well as mulberry-trees, but they stay little more than a fortnight in this part of Egypt, and then pursue their route towards the East, in order to find there a suitable climate and an abundance of food."

"Turtle-doves appear in the Archipelago in spring, for about twenty days; towards the end of August they return."

"The end of March and the beginning of August are the two epochs of passage of the hoopoe." "Nightingales are seen sometimes, but rather seldom, to pass into the same islands, at the end of summer; it appears that their route is directed more to the south. They merely pass through the Greek islands."

"Quails are commonly seen to pass into the islands of the Levant which happen to lie in their route, on the 20th of August, and to repass them on the 20th of April, in order to return to our climates; some remain, or some are passing during the whole of September."

With regard to irregularity in this periodical appearance, Sonnini says:—"The period of the passage of birds into the islands of Greece varies according to the winds which then prevail. At the end of the summer of 1779 this passage was delayed, because the northerly winds which are accustomed to reign during that season, blew much later than in other years, and the birds which then go to the south, were obliged to wait for a wind that might favour them in their passage, accordingly the period of their passing was of shorter duration that year; the birds, eager to arrive in countries, where they were to find warmth of temperature and abundance of food, hastened to repair thither as soon as the favourable wind had sprung up."

Again, he says:—"On the 17th of March, I saw for the first time