26, 1770.
Dear Sir,
I was much pleased to see, among the collection of birds from
Gibraltar, some of those short-winged English summer birds of
passage, concerning whose departure we have made so much
inquiry. Now if these birds are found in Andalusia to migrate to
and from Barbary, it may easily be supposed that those that come
to us may migrate back to the continent, and spend their winters in
some of the warmer parts of Europe. This is certain, that many
soft-billed birds that come to Gibraltar appear there only in spring
and autumn, seeming to advance in pairs towards the northward,
for the sake of breeding during the summer months; and retiring in
parties and broods towards the south at the decline of the year: so
that the rock of Gibraltar is the great rendezvous, and place of
observation, from whence they take their departure each way
towards Europe or Africa. It is therefore no mean discovery, I
think, to fund that our small short-winged summer birds of passage
are to be seen spring and autumn on the very skirts of Europe; it is
a presumptive proof of their emigrations.
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