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diff --git a/old/65621-0.txt b/old/65621-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index f8fce49..0000000 --- a/old/65621-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,2215 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Report on the Migration of Birds in the -Autumn of 1879, by John A. Harvie-Brown - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: Report on the Migration of Birds in the Autumn of 1879 - -Author: John A. Harvie-Brown - John Cordeaux - -Release Date: June 15, 2021 [eBook #65621] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -Produced by: Tom Cosmas compiled from files generously provided by The - Internet Archive and placed in the Public Domain. - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REPORT ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS -IN THE AUTUMN OF 1879 *** - - - - -Transcriber Note - -Text emphasis denoted as _Italics_. - - - - THE ZOOLOGIST. - - THIRD SERIES. - - Vol. IV.] MAY, 1880. [No. 41 - - - - - REPORT ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS IN THE - - AUTUMN OF 1879.[1] - - - By John A. Harvie-Brown and John Cordeaux. - - -[Footnote 1: I would here direct attention to another paper of mine -bearing upon this subject, which was read at the meeting of the -Glasgow Natural History Society on Sept. 30th, 1879, and forms part -of its 'Proceedings' for the Session 1879-80, now in the press. It -forms a Report upon Migration of 1878, Journal of the severe winter -of 1879-80, and Observations on the effects of the weather, under the -different species of Mammals and Birds noticed. I read a similar Report -on 1879-80 at the meeting of the same Society in March last.--_J. A. -H.-B_.] - - - - - -CONTENTS - - - PAGE - - _EAST COAST OF SCOTLAND_ 161 - Separate Report of Each Species Observed 162 - - _EAST COAST OF ENGLAND_ 172 - Separate Report of Each Species Observed 173 - - _WEST COAST OF SCOTLAND_ 189 - Separate Report of Each Species Observed 190 - - - - -_EAST COAST OF SCOTLAND._ - - -Printed forms of enquiry and letters of instructions were sent to -twenty-six lighthouses on the east coast of Scotland. Thirteen stations -have sent in returns, and thirteen have either sent in none, or have -returned blank forms, owing to unusual scarcity of birds. The stations -from which co-operation was asked are the following, commencing with -the most northerly. Those from which returns have been received are -marked with a *. - - *North Unst, Shetland; white and red sectors, fixed. Robert Burnett. - Whalsey Skerries, Shetland; white, revolving every minute. - Bressay Sound, Shetland; red and white alternately, rev. every minute. - *Sumburgh Head, Shetland; white, fixed. William Anderson. - *North Ronaldshay, Orkney; white, flash every 10 seconds. John Tulloch. - Start Point, Orkney; red, fixed. - *Auskerry, Orkney; white, fixed. Charles C. Irvine. - *Hoy Sound (Low), Orkney; white, fixed. Alex. Harp. - " (High) Orkney; red and white sectors, fixed. W. Gordon. - Cantick Head, Orkney; white, revolving every minute. - *Pentland Skerries, Orkney; white, fixed. D. M'Donald. - *Dunnet Head, Caithness; white, fixed. George M'Lachlan. - Holborn Head, Caithness; white and red, flash every 10 sec. D. Charleson. - *Noss Head, Caithness; white and red, revolving every ½ m. Alex. Creig. - *Tarbet Ness, E. Ross-shire; white, int. visible every 2½ m. W. Davidson. - Cromarty, E. Cromarty; red, fixed. Robert S. Ritson. - Chanonry Point, Elgin; white and red sectors, revolving every minute. - Covesea Skerries, Elgin; white and red sectors, revolving every minute. - Kinnaird Head, Aberdeen; white and red sectors, fixed. F. Harvey. - Buchan Ness, Aberdeen; white, flash every 5 seconds. Thomas Gallie. - *Girdleness, Aberdeen; white, fixed. Wm. Gulcher. - Montroseness, Forfar; white, fixed. Patrick E. Reid. - *Bell Rock, off Coast of Fife; white and red revolving. James Jack. - *Isle of May, Firth of Forth; white, fixed. Joseph Agnew. - *Inch Keith, Firth of Forth; white, revolving every minute. R. Grierson. - St. Abbs Head, Berwick; white, flash every 10 seconds. Robert Seater. - -A general scarcity of birds is reported by a great majority of the -observers on our east coast, which partly accounts for the absence -of returns from several stations. Those sent in have been carefully -prepared by the various reporters so far as materials allowed. -Excluding Swans, Geese, Ducks, and Rock-birds, notes have been made on -about twenty-eight different species. - - -SEPARATE REPORT OF EACH SPECIES OBSERVED. - -At North Ronaldshay, an Owl--species unknown, but probably the -Short-eared Owl, _Asio acciptrinus_--was seen on Nov. 3rd, flying -south, at 10 a.m.; and at Dunnet Head a Horned Owl, also probably of -the same species, struck three times, but got away. This was at 6 p.m. - -From Pentland Skerries we have all the records of hawks. Two early -records (July 7th and 14th) may refer to autumn migration or not. Thus, -"a black hawk" was seen on July 7th at 3 p.m., and on the 14th another -of the same at 7 p.m. On Sept. 17th one hawk struck at 11.30 p.m. The -species is probably, the Sparrowhawk, _Accipter nisus_. - -Accounts forwarded by other correspondents, however, show that Hobbies -(_Falco subbuteo_, Linn.), visited the Lewis in some numbers this -year.[2] At Sumburgli Head the appearance of a White-tailed Eagle is -recorded, but is only of local interest, as these birds are known to -breed near that station. That a migration, however, does take place -amongst Eagles, and mostly of this species, is undoubted. Mr. D. Dewar, -an experienced ornithologist, writes me:--"Every winter, for this -longtime back, when we have a strong east wind in November, Eagles and -Rough-legged Buzzards appear over Loch Tay. In November, this year, -I saw four Eagles together, all White-tailed, and three Rough-legged -Buzzards along with them." - -[Footnote 2: I have referred more fully to this in my "Report -on Scottish Ornithology" for the Nat. Hist. Soc. of Glasgow for -1879-80.--_J. A. H.-B_.] - -Swift, _Cypselus apus_.--Only one at Sumburgh Head on May 25th, -doubtless on the spring migration. Two were seen at 10 a.m., wind light -S.W., breeze and haze. "Swifts, however, do not breed in Shetland" -(_vide_ Saxby's 'Birds of Shetland,' p. 147). - -Swallow, _Hirundo rustica_.--I have returns from four stations, -Sumburgh Head, Auskerry, Tarbet Ness, and Isle of May. At the -northernmost station (Sumburgh Head) "a number were seen flying about," -at 11 am., wind at W.S.W., fresh and hazy. But this record was on -June 12th, so probably refers to the spring migration. Their earliest -appearance noted is August 21st, when four struck at Auskerry at 1 -a.m., wind S.E., strong with fog; the latest Oct. 27th, when two were -killed at Tarbet Ness at 7.10 p.m., wind N.W., light with fog. This -shows migration between Aug. 21st and Oct. 27th. A "rush" appears to -have taken place at the Isle of May on Sept. 19th, at 2 a.m., wind -light E. with fog, when a flock of young birds was seen and four of -them were wounded against the glass. Swallows migrate in August and -September with an E. to S.E. wind, light to strong. In October my only -record at Tarbet Ness gives wind N.W., light with fog. When the wind -has been N.W., S.E. or E. there has been fog; when, in summer, at -Sumburgh Head, W.S.W., there has been haze and rain. The last Swallow -was seen in Berwickshire by Mr. J. Hardy on the 30th Sept. 1879. - -Martin, _Hirundo urbica_.--From Pentland Skerries one record in which -this species is distinguished from the Swallow. On August 25th one -struck at 2.30 p.m. during a light W. wind with haze. The last was seen -in Berwickshire by Mr. J. Hardy on the 3rd October, 1879. - -Wren, _Troglodytes europæus_.--At North Ronaldshay five seen during the -daytime on Nov. 21st, fresh breeze (direction not noted) with haze. -Reported as usually appearing in large numbers at Auskerry, but the -above-mentioned were the only ones seen. - -Goldcrest, _Regulus cristatus_.--The almost total absence of this -species is specially remarked at the Isle of May. Usually they are -abundant. These birds were decidedly scarce in Scotland throughout the -summer. - -Robin, _Erythaca rubecula_.--Only two records of this species on the -east coast. At Tarbet Ness one was killed on August 6th at 10 p.m., -wind light E. breeze, fog and rain; and at Inch Keith one struck on -August 10th at 11.30 p.m., in similar weather, but with wind light W. - -Wheatear, _Saxicola œnanthe_.--The most northerly station of the two -recorded is Pentland Skerries, and to the south the Bell Rock. Between -Sept. 7th--when great numbers struck and were lost at the latter -station, and birds continued passing or flying round lantern between -midnight and dawn, wind S.E. and variable, fog and haze--and Sept. -17th, Wheatears or "Stonechats" were on passage. If any rush took place -it was between Sept. 7th and 11th, on which latter day fourteen were -seen and two killed. Winds veered from S. and S.E. on. Sept. 9th and -7th, to W. and S.W. on the 11th, 13th and 17th. All the birds passed at -night between 8 p.m. and dawn. - -Titmice.--At only one station were Titmice observed on our east coast, -_viz._, at the Isle of May, were some were seen on Sept. 15th at 10 -a.m., wind light W. with haze. From Auskerry, however, there is the -general report that they are in most years abundant there, though none -have been seen this season. - -Song Thrush, _Tardus musicus_.--Recorded from a number of stations -from North Ronaldshay in the north to Auskerry, Pentland Skerries, -Dunnet Head, Noss Head, Girdleness, and Bell Rock in the south. The -greatest numbers noted were at Pentland Skerries, but great numbers -also were noted at North Ronaldshay and the Bell Rock, where many -"struck and were lost." Their earliest appearance recorded is on Sept. -16th, when four struck at Noss Head between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., wind -S., moderate with haze. The latest date is Oct. 25th, when numbers, -along with Blackbirds, struck at North Ronaldshay. The time thus -occupied was from Sept. 16th to Oct. 25th. A rush took place during -October, and the greatest rush, perhaps, between Oct. 14th and 25th. At -North Ronaldshay, on Oct. 1st, numbers struck, along with Blackbirds, -and were flying about all night. Others seen at Girdleness, the Bell -Rock, at Pentland Skerries, and Dunnet Head. Thrushes migrated when -the wind was between E. through S.E., S.S.W. to N.W., but principally -when southerly. Fog, haze, and rain on all the dates given. Time of -migration, after dark and before dawn at all dates. - -Blackbird, _Turdus merula_.--Appeared at North Ronaldshay and the Bell -Rock between Oct. 1st and Nov. 25th. A rush during this time recorded -on three dates:--Oct. 1st, "Numbers flying about all night," at North -Ronaldshay, wind S.E., strong, "along with Thrushes." Oct. 14th, four -(two males and two females) killed; number flying about between 8 a.m. -and dawn; wind N.E., fresh, with haze and rain. Nov. 25th, numbers, -along with Thrushes, flying about all night; wind light E. breeze, haze. - -Ring Ouzel (or "Mountain Blackbird"), _Turdus torquatus_.--Reported -from Sumburgh Head only, where one struck at 4 a.m.; wind light N. at 5 -a.m., S.W. gale at 4 p.m.; weather clear. A number of the same species -were seen in the country about the same time, and supposed to be young -birds. At Auskerry, where they generally pass in large numbers, none -were observed. - -Besides the above, "large Thrushes," probably Fieldfares,[3] passed or -were caught at Auskerry, in October; four on the 15th between 1 and -4 a.m., wind light N., clear; six on the 16th between 2 and 4 a.m., -wind S.S.W., strong, haze; and two on the 22nd at 3 a.m., wind strong -S.W., and haze. Large numbers struck the lantern at the Bell Rock, and -were lost in the sea between midnight and dawn on Sept. 7th, and again -at the same station on Oct. 14th, between 3 a.m. and dawn. These were -mixed in flocks of Blackbirds, Thrushes, and "various" other species. - -[Footnote 3: Afterwards identified as such by the head, wings and tail -sent in later communication.] - -The great scarcity of Thrushes in Scotland all summer was caused by -the severe winter of 1878-79 and late spring of 1879, a consequent -"crowding down" upon lower latitudes taking place during that breeding -season. I have referred very fully to this in my first Report on -Scottish Ornithology for the Natural History Society of Glasgow for -1878-79 (now in MS., ready for press), read Sept. 30th, 1879. This -scarcity is still felt. In the birch-woods of the west coast I saw -small flocks on Oct. 28th, 1879. - -Rook, _Corvus frugilegus_.--At Sumburgh Head numbers were seen about -9 am on Nov. 2nd, wind N.N.W., strong to fresh, with sleet and snow -showers. "Rooks do not breed in Shetland, but are often seen in the -spring time, but very seldom in the fall, crossing, as is supposed, -between Norway and Scotland." At Dunnet Head about 100 Rooks, mostly -young birds, were seen at 12 noon, with fresh breeze from S.E. to S.W. - -Starling, _Sturnus vulgaris_.--Noted at only two stations. At Pentland -Skerries on October 19th six struck between 6 p.m. and 4 a.m., wind -S.W. and rain; on the 26th one at 8 p.m., wind W., and clear; and on -Nov. 20th two at 6 a.m., wind S.W., strong and haze. At Dunnet Head, on -Oct. 20th, seven struck and four were killed at night, wind N.W. and -N.E., haze. - -Siskin, _Carduelis spinus_.--At Inch Keith three young birds struck at -1 a.m. on Sept. 16th, wind light W., fog. - -Lark, _Alauda arvensis_.--Pretty generally recorded, but scarcer than -usual; the northernmost station Pentland Skerries. They are also noted -at Tarbet Ness and Girdleness. The most counted was thirty-six at -Pentland Skerries between 5 p.m. and 4 a.m. on October 13th-14th, and -the next largest number was sixteen, on Sept. 15th, between 8 and 10 -p.m. Their earliest appearance was on August 16th, when four struck -at midnight at Tarbet Ness, wind light S.E. and haze; the latest Nov. -19th, when nine struck (four killed) at the same station at 8.10 p.m., -wind S.W., light and haze. The time occupied is thus between August -16th and Nov. 19th. A rush took place between Oct. 13th and 14th, or -say about the middle of October, and again about November 19th at -Pentland Skerries, Tarbet Ness, and Girdleness. - -Larks migrated or came most under notice in S.W. winds, but also in -S.E., N.E. (as at Pentland Skerries, when thirty-six were seen), and W. -Our data from the Scotch coasts are too limited this year to admit of -conclusions, unaided by the English returns. Haze and fog are recorded -on all the days noticed. All records give hours of passing at night -from 6 p.m. in October, and from 8 10 p.m. in November till 4 or 5 a.m. - -Woodpecker, _Picus (major?)_.--At Inch Keith two struck and an adult -bird was killed at 9 p.m. on Sept. 15th, wind W., light breeze and fog. - -Lapwing, _Vanellus cristatus_.--Reported to have left the vicinity of -Hoy Sound in the third week of September. At Auskerry thirty or forty -were seen about 3 p.m. on Sept. 11th, wind light W. and haze, and at -Tarbet Ness a large flock was seen at 11 a.m., when the wind was N.W., -light and haze on Oct. 12th. - -Plover, _Charadrius pluvialis_.--At Pentland Skerries a flock was -seen at 1.15 a.m. on Sept. 3rd, wind S.W., almost calm, with fog, -and another flock at 2 p.m. on Dec. 7th, wind N.W. and clear. These -represent earliest and latest dates. At Dunnet Head about 160 Plovers -passed with S.E. wind and rain. At Tarbet Ness a large flock seen -at 4 p.m., wind N.W., fresh and haze on Oct. 12th. Plovers remained -unusually late on the high hills of Perthshire this autumn. On Oct. -15th I saw three on the hills around Glen Queich, and two flocks on -the 16th. On the 14th was a snowstorm and ice a quarter of an inch in -thickness on hill puddles. - -Heron, _Ardea cinerea_.--At Girdleness on October 23rd two Herons were -seen at 3.30 p.m., wind S.W., clear. - -Curlew, _Numenius arquata_.--Only three records, one of which no -doubt refers to local migration or to late spring or summer. On June -29th a flock was seen at Pentland Skerries at 7.40 p.m. At Sumburgh -Head, on July 30th, "a number crying very loud" were heard about 11 -a.m., wind W.S.W. (gale on Aug. 1st), with haze and rain. At Pentland -Skerries, on Dec. 11th, a flock was noted at 7.40 p.m. during light W. -wind and clear. Did the migration last from July 30th to Dec. 11th? -Curlews appear to migrate from early dawn to dusk, as far as records -show. These birds were nearly a month late in arriving on our coast in -Stirlingshire. - -Sandpiper (sp.?).--At Pentland Skerries three struck and were killed; -wind strong S.W. and haze. - -Woodcock, _Scolopax rusticola_.--The most northerly station was North -Ronaldshay. Thence southward, but nowhere in large numbers, seen or -struck at Auskerry, Pentland Skerries, Dunnet Head, Tarbet Ness, -Girdleness, and Isle of May. The largest number seen at any station -at the same time being five at Tarbet Ness on December 3rd. A single -bird is noted at Dunnet Head as early as Sept. 17th. None again till -Oct. 15th, when one was killed at North Ronaldshay at 9 p.m., wind -N.E., moderate, with sleet. The latest recorded was Dec. 3rd, when, as -related above, five were seen at Tarbet Ness at 11.30 a.m., wind strong -W., with snow. The length of time occupied in migration was between -Sept. 17th and Dec. 3rd. "Rushes" of migrants took place between Oct. -15th and 21st, but the reports are very meagre, being in most cases -instanced by single birds striking at North Ronaldshay, Auskerry, -Pentland Skerries, and Isle of May. Again a rush between Nov. 11th and -19th at North Ronaldshay and Girdleness; and again between Dec. 1st and -3rd at North Ronaldshay and Tarbet Ness. In two cases only have more -than single birds been recorded. The migration took place principally -when the wind was between S. and W.; but I have records of their -flights also in strong N. wind with snow, on Dec. 1st, at Tarbet Ness; -in N.E., moderate breeze with sleet, on Oct. 15th at North Ronaldshay; -and again, with an E. light breeze and clear, on Dec. 21st, at the same -station. When the wind has been S.W. or W., there has been fog or haze; -when S., rain, as in November, on the 14th and 15th. Woodcocks appear -to migrate principally at night, and are observed during the hours -between evening dusk and morning grey, or, in other words, between 7.30 -p.m. and 5 a.m. Exceptions occur, as at 11 a.m. at North Ronaldshay -11.30 a.m. at Tarbet Ness, 2 p.m. at North Ronaldshay, and 3.30 p.m. at -Girdleness; these last being all in daylight. A flight came inland in -Stirlingshire about Nov. 22nd, on which day a party of five guns, of -which party I was one, killed eighteen in Torwood Covers. - -Snipe, _Gallinago scolopacina_.--At the Isle of May one was seen at 10 -a.m. on August 6th, with light S.E. wind, fog and rain. Snipe scarce or -much scattered, owing to wet season. Entirely disappeared from inland -localities when the hard frost of beginning of December set in, and few -returned all winter. - -Water Rail, _Rallus aquaticus_.--One record at Girdleness; on August -17th, one was seen at 8 p.m., wind E. with rain. - -Grey Geese.--At Dunnet Head, on Sept. 3rd, thirteen Grey Geese were -seen "going north" at 3 p.m., wind S.E., fresh, haze and rain. - -Bernacle Goose, _Bernicla brenta_.--At Dunnet Head a mixed flock of old -and young (twenty-five) seen going W. on Sept. 7th, and five more on -the 14th, during the day, wind light W. Fog on the 7th; clear on the -14th. _Anatidæ_ were a month earlier in appearing on Loch Tay in the -autumn of 1879. Geese were reported as unusually abundant from many -localities. - -Swans.--Three Swans seen at North Ronaldshay flying south at 2.30 p.m., -with W.N.W. fresh wind and clear, and again at same place at 9.30 a.m., -on Nov. 27th, swimming on the water; wind strong N.E., and clear. At -Pentland Skerries eight were seen at 2 p.m. on Oct. 26th; wind light W. -and clear. At Dunnet Head three old and one young seen going S.W., at -1 p.m., breeze light, on Sept 14th; and three old birds again on Sept. -22nd. - -Ducks.--At Tarbet Ness a large flock of ducks passed inland at 10 a.m., -with a N. gale and snow, on Nov. 12th. At Girdleness, two ducks seen at -4.40 a.m., wind S.W., and haze, on Oct. 16th. At Tarbet Ness a large -flock seen at 9.15 a.m., wind W., strong and snow, on Dec. 5th. At -Dunnet Head seven ducks (Widgeon) stayed on the lake three days from -Oct. 25th; arrived with W. to N.W. breeze and cloudy. - -Guillemot, _Uria troile_.--At Pentland Skerries a flock seen on June -25th, at 7.15 p.m.; wind E.N.E., and light haze. (Compare with notes on -W. coast at Cape Wrath and elsewhere.) - -Puffin, _Mormon fratercula_.--At North Unst innumerable Puffins seen on -evening of April 24th. - -Common Skua (or "Bonxie"), _Stercorarius catarrhactes_.--At North Unst, -usually appear about middle of April. "We do not see more than six or -eight in a season." - -Petrel, _Thalassidroma pelagica_.--Seen at North Unst in August, and at -Dunnet Head on Oct. 10th, wind strong W., and haze, at 11 p.m. - -Tern, _Sterna_.--Only one record. One struck at Pentland Skerries at -8.30 p.m. on Sept. 8th; wind strong S., and fog. - -Terns always appear upon our Stirlingshire coast the end of August and -beginning of September, remaining usually about a fortnight to three -weeks. - -The unusual scarcity of migrants is very generally reported upon at -almost all the east coast stations. The remarks of the reporters, -comparing the observations with former years, generally show this to -be the case. Thus, commencing with our most northerly station. North -Unst, I find it stated that, in most seasons, "Land birds, as Snow -Buntings, Stonechats, and Starlings, strike the lantern." It is also -stated that--"Until the last three years, large flocks of Iceland Gulls -were seen during the month of April, going N.W. A few returned this -way." They are seen, however, every year in some numbers in October. -At Sumburgh Head, Mr. Anderson says, "In twenty-one years I have not -seen so few birds strike the lantern"; and Mr. Tulloch, writing from -North Ronaldshay, says, "We have had so much of N.W. winds here this -fall, that I think the birds have been kept more towards the south." -Similar complaints of scarcity of migrants reach me from Auskerry, Hoy -Sound (High), Holborn Head, Ness Head, and Isle of May; and an entire -_absence_ of all birds--"since the schedules came to hand"--is reported -at several of these stations. The reason assigned by Mr. Tulloch is no -doubt the correct one. From other stations local influences probably -have more to do with the scarcity, as, for instance, the unfavourable -positions of the lanterns. Thus, Cromarty is "situated on the point of -the town of Cromarty, and almost among the houses." During seventeen -years that the present principal light-keeper has been there, he -does not think that more than a dozen birds have struck the glass. -Altogether, few of our Scottish stations are situated in as favourable -positions for observation as the lightships of the English coast. -Perhaps the Bell Rock and Isle of May are the most favourable in the -south, and the Pentland Skerries and some of the Orkney and Shetland -stations in the north. - -Besides the records under the various species which have been -identified, there are many records of birds striking or passing, which -were not identified. It is from a comparison of these and the other -records that I arrive at the conclusion that the above stations are the -most favoured. Thus, large numbers of birds struck the lantern of Bell -Rock, and were lost between midnight and dawn on Oct. 7th, and again on -the 14th, between 3 a.m. and dawn; on both occasions in foggy, hazy, or -rainy weather, &c., as is almost invariably the case. I have not been -able to trace from actual data, except in a few cases, the direction -of the flight of the migrants, as such has not, as a rule, been noted -by the reporters. It would be an advantage to have this done next -season, under the column in the schedule for "General Observations." -The species which have appeared in greatest numbers are Thrushes and -Blackbirds, Larks, Wheatears, and Swallows; whilst Hooded Crows--noted -as most numerous on the English east coast--are absent from all the -Scottish returns, and Rooks occur only in one very far north instance, -_viz._, at North Unst. - -The line of flight of the _Anatidæ_ is generally from N. to S., as -explained further on by Mr. Cordeaux. I may mention here that this -holds generally also on the west coast of Scotland, but that the -lines of flight of the _Insessores_ are influenced by local causes, -and configuration and trend of the west coast. Thus the direction, -according to previous experience, is often from N.W. to S.E. When -migrating over or near land the lines of flight follow the great -valleys and then the coast-lines, often cutting off promontories, as -at the Ross of Mull. These are probably birds having a starting-point -more to the N.W.,--the Hebrides, Iceland, and North America,--and -others which in their migrations from east to west overshoot the land -and "hark back"; but we will speak more of this in our remarks under -"West Coast." Land birds have passed at all hours of the day and -night, flying generally low, and in almost all kinds of weather. The -_Anatidæ_, as a rule, fly much higher, and consequently are only seen, -or almost only, in clear weather. - -Almost all records of birds caught or killed, or striking at the -lanterns, are noted on dark or cloudy nights, with fog, haze or rain, -or snow and sleet. The isolated stations, such as the Bell Rock, are -most deadly; many are stunned and killed, and blown into the sea, at -such localities. Birds on such nights often remain around the lights -all night or rest on the window-sills of the tower and the balconies, -or endeavour to obtain entrance to the tower. Whenever dawn appears -they resume their flight towards the nearest land. - -A great northward rush appears to have taken place at Bell Rock -lighthouse between the 2nd and 11th of March, 1880, as noted in the -duplicate schedule by Mr. James Jack, lately received by me. On the -2nd March great numbers of birds were seen flying about the lantern, -apparently of various species, of which Blackbirds, Thrushes, and -Mavises were recognised; wind S., light breeze, heavy sleet; sexes -unidentified; a great number continued to strike hard on lantern all -night from 10 p.m., and rebounding off, fell into the sea. On the 9th, -great numbers, including Lapwings, Thrushes, Mavises, "Snowflecks," -Rooks and "Sea-piets," from 5 a.m. till good daylight, when all -disappeared in the fog; observer could not say in which direction -they flew; wind S.E., light breeze, fog, and rain. This has been the -largest migration seen this year; very large numbers of each species -seen. On the 11th March great numbers of Lapwings, Curlews, Blackbirds, -and "Sea-piets," from 12 midnight till first streak of day, when all -disappeared; cannot say in which direction; wind N.E., light breeze, -and haze. A few struck lantern-lights and flew off again; sexes not -made out. A perceptible increase in our birds at inland localities took -place about this time, and notes on migration taken at various inland -localities corroborate the rush at coast stations. Curlews were seen -passing inland on March 6th for first time. Great Tits much increased -in numbers, as also Chaffinches, Starlings, Thrushes, Blackbirds, &c. - - - - -_EAST COAST OF ENGLAND._ - - -Printed forms of enquiry and letters of instruction were sent to -thirty-seven lighthouses and lightvessels on the east coast of England. -Twenty-five stations have sent in returns, and twelve have failed to -do so. The stations from which co-operation was asked are as follows, -commencing with the most northerly. Those from which returns have been -received are marked with a *. - - Berwick. - *Longstone, on the most easterly of the Farn Islands; white light, - revolving every 30 seconds. - *Farn Islands (two lights); white, revolving every 30 seconds. - *Coquet Island, coast of Northumberland; two white lights in same - tower. - Souter Point. - *Teesmouth, No. 5 Buoy Lightvessel; one white light, fixed. - *Whitby, High Light; while, fixed. - Flamborough Head; two white, one red flash, revolving every half - minute. - Spurn Point. - *Spurn, Lightvessel, six miles S.S.E. of Spurn Point; white, - revolving every minute. - Bull, Lightvessel, mouth of Humber. - *Outer Dowsing, Lightvessel, 53 miles E.S.E. Spurn; red light, - revolving every 90 seconds. - *Inner Dowsing, Lightvessel, 17 miles E. Sutton, on Lincolnshire coast; - green, 20 seconds. - Dudgeon, Lightvessel, 35 m. E. Skegness, Lincolnshire coast; white, - fixed. - *Leman and Ower, Lightvessel, 48 miles E.N.E. of Cromer; two white - lights, one fixed, one revolving. - *Hunstanton, Lighthouse, white, fixed. - *Cromer, Lighthouse; white, revolving every minute. - Hasborough, Lighthouse; white, fixed. - Winterton, Lighthouse; white, fixed. - *Newarp, Lightvessel, 12 miles N.E. Winterton; white, three quick - flashes, and 36 seconds in a minute dark. - *Cockle, Lightvessel, 3 miles E. Yarmouth; white, revolving each minute. - *Lowestoft, Lighthouse; white, revolving 30 seconds, and red fight, - fixed. - *Corton, Lightvessel, 4 miles E. Lowestoft; red, revolving 20 seconds. - *Orfordness, Lighthouse; white, fixed. - *Shipwash, Lightvessel, 8 miles S.S.E. of Orfordness; white, fixed. - Languard Point, Lighthouse, entrance to Harwich River. - Cork, Lightvessel, 5 miles off mouth of Harwich River. - *Galloper, Lightvessel, 40 miles S.S.E. of Orfordness; two white, - horizontal, fixed. - *Kentish Knock, Lightvessel, 33 miles N.E. of North Foreland; white, - revolving each minute. - *Nore, Lightvessel, mouth of Thames; white, revolving 30 seconds. - *North Foreland, Lighthouse; white, fixed. - *Goodwin, Lightvessel, Goodwin Sands; white, revolving, three quick - flashes in succession, 36 seconds darkness. - *Gull-stream, Lightvessel, Goodwin Sands; white, revolving 20 seconds. - *East-side, Lightvessel, Goodwin Sands, 13 miles E. of Deal; green, - revolving 15 seconds. - *South-sand Head, Lightvessel, Goodwin Sands; white, fixed. - South Foreland, Lighthouse; white, fixed. - Dungeness Point; white, fixed. - -Great credit is due to the observers of the various stations for -the careful manner in which, as a rule, the returns have been -made out. Taking them altogether the reports show truthful, -accurate, and painstaking observation. Excluding the _Anatidæ_, -Swans, Geese and Ducks, notes have been taken of about thirty-two -different species. - - -SEPARATE REPORT OF EACH SPECIES OBSERVED. - -Of _Raptores_ two only are mentioned, the Sparrowhawk and the -Short-eared Owl. Of the former one visited the Inner Dowsing on -Oct. 1st, at 8 p.m. At the Gull-stream on Sept. 19th one alighted -on deck and was caught. At the South-sand Head on Sept. 23rd -a very large Sparrowhawk stopped to rest on the rail, going W. At -the same station on Oct. 2nd another settled on the lantern, also -leaving for the west. These may have been hawks in passage, or -pirates beating in the track of small migrants. The Short-eared -Owl occurs only at Teesmouth; on Sept. 29th one passed at daybreak, -one on Oct. 1st at 7 a.m., and another on the 16th at 3 p.m. - -I saw the first Short-eared Owl on the Lincolnshire coast on -Oct. 30th. Twelve were seen at Spurn the same morning. It -thus appears that the migration of this species has extended just -over a month, from Sept. 29th to Oct. 30th. - -Flycatcher, _Muscicapa grisola_.--At the Galloper on Sept. 13th, -from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., hazy, 200 to 300 birds, mostly Flycatchers; -twenty killed against glass of lantern. At the Kentish Knock on Sept. -18th two dozen Flycatchers through night around lantern, rain, going -S.W. at daylight; none killed. At the Nore, Aug. 22nd, at sunrise, -mixed with Larks, and again on Sept. 7th, same hour, without Larks. -At the Gull-stream, on Sept. 17th, at 3.20 a.m., E., thick rain, -large quantities of Flycatchers; lantern surrounded by birds. On Oct. -11th-12th, 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., N.N.E., rain, large numbers of Larks, -Starlings and Flycatchers in vicinity of light; many struck and went -overboard. Time of migration extending over fifty-two days.[4] - -[Footnote 4: I find the following reference to this species in my -note-book:--"Did not observe any Flycatchers, old or young, in this -neighbourhood after the end of August: up to this time they were -exceptionally numerous."--_J. C._] - -Song Thrush, Redwing, Fieldfare, Blackbird, and Ring Ouzel.--With the -exception of the last, which is reported from Heligoland, the _Turdidæ_ -are noticed at fourteen stations extending over the whole coast-line. -At the Longstone, on Sept. 11th, four Redwings killed at 3 a.m., gloomy -and thick; on Oct. 30th and 31st Thrushes, Blackbirds and Redwings -passed, wind E. and N. At the Farn Islands, Oct. 14th, Redwings, 9 -a.m.; 15th, Thrushes and Blackbirds, N.N.E. half a gale; 22nd, several -Blackbirds; 30th, same, and flocks of Redwings all day, E.; Nov. 20th, -Fieldfares all day, E. strong; 22nd, same; Dec. 5th, 3 p.m., snow. -Blackbirds and Thrushes. At Teesmouth on Dec. 1st, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., -snow. Redwings, Thrushes and Fieldfares, going from N. to S.W.; Dec. -2nd, a few Redwings. At Teesmouth lighthouse on Oct. 1st, at daylight, -forty to fifty Thrushes, and twenty to thirty at 9 a.m. on the 7th; on -Dec. 4th, at 6 a.m., one Blackbird struck the glass and was killed. -At Spurn on Dec. 2nd, 9 a.m., large numbers of Thrushes. At the Outer -Dowsing, Sept. 24th, four Blackbirds; on the 29th, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., -six Thrushes. At the Leman and Ower on Dec. 16th, Thrushes in company -with Larks and Starlings all through the night. At Cromer on Oct. -24th three Thrushes struck the lantern during the night; on the 30th -four, and on Nov. 16th five others. At the Newarp, Nov. 28th, 9 a.m., -six Blackbirds passed. At the Kentish Knock, Nov. 18th, one Thrush -killed. At the Nore, Nov. 7th, four Blackbirds, going W.S.W.; Nov. 3rd, -Fieldfares. At the North Foreland, Nov. 21st, 1 a.m., E.S.E., snow, one -Blackbird killed. At the Gull-stream, Nov. 21st, cloudy and showers of -snow, Starlings, Blackbirds, and Thrushes in the vicinity of light from -1 to 4 a.m.; six Starlings, four Thrushes, and one Blackbird killed. -At the South-sand Head, Oct. 12th, dense fog, many Thrushes; several -killed. General line of migration, with few exceptions, E. to W., -carried on both by day and night; a considerable proportion, however, -appear to arrive from daybreak to 10 a.m. Migration of Thrush extending -over seventy-seven days, from Oct. 1st at Teesmouth to Dec. 16th at the -Leman and Ower; of Redwing, sixty-five days, from Sept. 11th at the -Longstone to Dec. 2nd at Teesmouth; of Fieldfare, twenty-eight days, -from Nov. 3rd at the Nore to Dec. 1st at Teesmouth;[5] of Blackbird, -seventy-two days, from Sept. 24th at the Outer Dowsing to Dec. 5th at -Farn Islands.[6] On Oct. 29th, S.E. and E., _Tardus iliacus_ crossed -Heligoland in large numbers, "thousands and thousands" passing on -overhead; the same day, _T. torquatus_, "a few"; _T. merula_ and _T. -musicus_, "limited numbers"; "_T. iliacus_ descending from invisible -heights down to about one hundred feet above island,--three hundred -feet above the sea,--then all of them passing on; when atmosphere got -clear again, in afternoon, passage ceased." Again on the night of the -30th, N.N.E., "enormous number of _Turdidæ_ passing overhead." - -[Footnote 5: Mr. W. Eagle Clarke reports that on the 24th of January -last large numbers of Fieldfares were seen between Easington and -Kilnsea, near Spurn Point, and as they were the first seen in the -neighbourhood this season they were no doubt immigrants, more -particularly as the locality in which they were seen is one where they -are only observed during or immediately after arrival. Large flocks -appeared also in North-East Lincolnshire during the last fortnight in -January, so far as my own observations go, composed entirely of old -birds. Mr. Gätke also writes, "All January through, night from 10th to -11th, great many from the east; 21st to 24th, the same."--_J. C._] - -[Footnote 6: Numbers of fine old cock Blackbirds arrived at Spurn -during the latter part of January, and early in February at the same -time with the Fieldfares.--_J. C._] - -Redbreast, Whitethroat, Wren.--The same notes in the reports applying -generally to the three species, it is not necessary to treat them -separately. At Coquet Island, on Sept. 13th, 11 p.m., two Redbreasts -struck glass, not killed. At Hunstanton, on Oct. 13th, 1 p.m., fog, -a Wren and Redbreast seen. At Cromer, May 23rd, 1 a.m., a great many -Wrens; two killed, also one Redbreast; May 27th, 11 p.m., Wrens and -Whitethroats, five killed (these last notes are referable to the spring -migration); Sept. 12th, Wrens and three Redbreasts strike glass. At -Spurn this autumn the Common Wren did not appear before the middle of -December; they usually arrive about the end of October.[7] Redbreasts -were very numerous at Spurn on Oct. 30th, wind blowing very fresh from -N.E. None reported from Heligoland, but a great many Accentor modularis -on Oct. 29th, wind S.E. and E. - -[Footnote 7: A friend, the owner of several steam-tugs, informs me that -he has frequently known the Common Wren to come on board his vessels -when far from land on the North Sea.--_J. C._] - -Golden-crested Wren.--Most exceptionally scarce; only one mentioned, -at the Cockle, on Oct. 16th, at 3 p.m., wind N.N.E., when one came -on board and was caught. Three were seen in a garden near Spurn on -Oct. 27th and 28th; none, so far as I am aware, on any part of the -Lincolnshire and Durham coasts, neither are they mentioned in the -Heligoland report. - -Titmice.--At the Gull-stream, Sept. 17th, 3.20 a.m., thick, rain, -E., several Titmice seen round lantern amongst the Flycatchers. Mr. -Gätke remarks, "There have been no Parus major all this autumn, and -we have actually seen only one bird"; early in October, "daily some -_Parus ater_, that come here rarely but when there is an appearance of -easterly winds." - -Wheatear.--At Hunstanton, May 24th, 11 p.m. to 2 a.m., drizzly -rain, forty-one small birds killed, amongst them three Wheatears. -At Cromer, Aug. 16th, 1 a.m., several Wheatears; four killed. - -Titlark, _Anthus sp.?_--At Spurn, May 25th, 1 a.m., rain, -several Titlarks killed (referable to the spring migration), At -the South-sand Head, Oct. 12th, 3 a.m., N.E., dense fog, Titlarks, -amongst thousands of other birds, around and passing lantern. - -Shore Lark, _Otocorys alpestris_.--On Dec. 19th two were shot, -from a small flock on the Humber side of Spurn Point; these -were received in the flesh on the 22nd by Mr. W. Eagle Clarke, of -Leeds.[8] At Heligoland, on Oct. 1st, "some flights"; 5th, "some -score"; 8th, "a great many"; 10th, "many flights"; on the 24th -likewise, and again on the 29th, "many." - -[Footnote 8: Mr. Clarke subsequently informed me that on March 18th, -this year, he saw a flock of about twenty Shore Larks at Spurn, and -that during the past winter thirty-three have been shot there, in the -proportion of two males to one female.--_J. C._] - -Sky Lark, _Alauda arvensis_.--None reported north of the Humber, and -a negative return from Heligoland. South of the Humber, from every -station making returns, and showing a gradual increase towards the more -southern stations, where they crossed in immense numbers. Earliest date -of passage, July 24th, at the Goodwin, 10 a.m., ninety to a hundred -flying N.W. to the nearest land, and again at the same station on Aug. -4th. After this no further notice till Sept. 17th, when the regular and -normal migration of this species appears to have set in and continued -without intermission till Dec. 27th. Leaving out the two earliest dates -as exceptional, we shall find that the immigration of the Larks to our -east coast was continued over 102 days. During October, November and -December (first fortnight) they crossed continually, passing from E. to -W., also from points S. of E. to others N. of W., over the narrowest -part of the North Sea, as is shown in the returns of the most southern -lightships--Galloper, Kentish Knock, Nore, North Foreland, Goodwin, -Gull-stream, East Side, and South-sand Head; time, any hour of the day -or night; direction of wind, variable. It would be quite impossible -in a limited space to give anything like a detailed statement of the -immigration of Larks, so a few extracts from my summary of the reports -must suffice. There was a "great rush" of Larks and other species -between Oct. 12th and 23rd. On the 16th October more birds appear to -have crossed than on any day during the autumn. There was again a -"final rush" of the laggards just preceding and during the outbreak of -severe weather early in December. At the Newarp, Sept. 29th to Oct. -27th, on fourteen days, going W., no particular hour, some striking -lantern at night. At the Cockle, Sept. 28th to Oct. 17th, as a rule, -very early in the morning (4.30 to 9.20 a.m.), on foggy, thick nights -stopping to hover round lantern, some strike and are killed; Oct. -9th to 16th, "great rush." At the Corton, Oct. 22nd and 23rd, flocks -passing all day to N.W.; Nov. 11th, many hundreds during day; and again -on Dec. 25th, all day from N.E. to S.W., Ducks and Larks; Dec. 27th, -hundreds of Larks during afternoon. At the Shipwash, from Oct. 9th -to 16th; all day on 15th and 16th. At the Galloper,[9] from Oct. 8th -to 24th, Larks, Starlings and Chaffinches, generally during night; -between these dates 135 of these species killed against lantern. At the -Kentish Knock, Oct. 23rd, N.W., hazy, Larks and Chaffinches through -night, "in clouds," sixty picked up on deck, and probably double this -number falling overboard; Dec. 1st, from noon to 2.30 p.m., thick snow -falling, Larks, Curlews, Starlings, Ducks, Chaffinches and Linnets, -too numerous to mention; they came in clouds from N.E. to W.S.W. At -the Nore, Aug. 4th to Dec. 6th and 7th, on forty-four days; on Dec. -6th and 7th, by hundreds all day, often mixed with Starlings, Linnets -and Sparrows. At the North Foreland, on Sept. 17th, a few; Oct. 16th, -midnight, misty, fourteen Larks and ten Starlings; 17th, between 3 and -4 a.m., ten Larks and nine Starlings struck. At the Goodwin, Sept. 17th -to Dec. 7th, on nineteen days, going W. or N.W. or W.N.W.; Oct. 13th -and 15th, in shoals throughout night; 13th to 22nd, "great rush." At -the Gull-stream, Oct. 16th to 22nd, "great rush," flocks two hundred -yards apart, passing westward. At the East-side, Oct. 9th to Dec. 12th, -on seven days, E. to W.; on Sept. 23rd, going N. to S., with a N.E. -wind blowing. At the South-sand Head, Oct. 12th, 3 a.m., dense fog, -"great rush," thousands of Larks and other birds, many killed; Dec. -1st, 3 p.m., dense fog and snow, "final rush," Larks, Starlings, and -fifty Curlews; twelve Starlings caught on board, but no Larks. Mr. J. -H. Gurney, jun., writing from Lowestoft, says, "On Wednesday (Oct. -22nd), the arrival of Larks here was regular throughout the day." On -Oct. 29th, at Spurn Point, Mr. W. Eagle Clarke, of Leeds, says, "Sky -Larks arriving and passing south in thousands the whole day." Immense -numbers also arrived on the Lincolnshire coast in the last fortnight of -October. (At Heligoland, Oct. 29th, S.E., and E., "_Alauda arboreus_, -many.") - -[Footnote 9: Birds passing this station were all passing to E. or -E.S.E. or S.E. in October. On Nov. 24th great numbers of Larks and -Starlings were observed passing to N.N.E. See general remarks at end of -report.--_J. C._] - -Snow Bunting, _Plectrophanes nivalis_.--None at stations south of the -Humber. At the Longstone, Sept. 5th, 8.30 a.m., wind S., one was seen -on the rocks; my correspondent remarks, "Earliest date I have ever seen -a Snow Bunting on these islands (Farn Isles)." At the Farn Islands, -Oct. 3rd, 11.30 a.m., three Snow Buntings flying N.W.; Oct. 25th, -afternoon, in flocks flying W. At Teesmouth, Nov. 7th to Dec. 20th, -several flocks between these dates flying N.W. At Spurn, Snow Buntings -were first seen on the 28th. October; and large flocks of from 400 to -500 in the Lincolnshire marshes during the first week in November. At -Heligoland on Oct. 30th, N.N.E., "_Emberiza nivalis_, a great many," -and on the 31st, S.E., calm, overcast, "Snow Buntings and Finches." -Leaving out the Farn Island date as exceptional,[10] we find the -regular migration of this species to have commenced on Oct. 25th and -finished Dec. 20th--fifty-seven days. - -[Footnote 10: In a note to Yarrell's 'British Birds' (vol. ii., p. 6, -4th ed.), Prof. Newton cites, on my authority, the occurrence of a -Snow Bunting on the Lincolnshire coast on Sept. 16th, 1875, as perhaps -the earliest date for England. The Farn Island bird must now take -precedence by eleven days.--_J. C._] - -Chaffinch, _Fringilla cœlebs_.--Has occurred at several stations, -and both north and south of the Humber. At the Longstone, Sept. 28th -and Oct. 1st, 6 a.m. till noon, S. strong, rain and mist, flocks of -Finches and other birds going W. At the Outer Dowsing, Oct. 18th, at -noon, going E. to W.; Oct. 24th, 7 p.m., overcast, rain, thirty round -lantern, two killed. At the Leman and Owers, Oct. 7th, N.N.E., gloomy, -mixed flocks of Larks, Chaffinches and Starlings during day and night. -At the Newarp, Sept. 26th to Oct. 23rd, on several days. At the Cockle, -odd birds, on three days, strike lantern or come on board. At the -Kentish Knock, Oct. 23rd and Dec. 1st (see Sky Lark). At the Goodwin, -Sept. 17th, 9 to 11 p.m., overcast, hazy, flying round lantern. -Migration extending from Sept. 17th to Dec. 1st--seventy-six days. - -Linnet, _Linota cannabina_.--None registered north of the Shipwash, off -the Essex coast, where from Oct. 9th to 16th flocks passed daily, all -hours, going E. to W. At the Nore, Oct. 14th to Nov. 12th, invariably -mixed with Larks. At the Gull-stream, Oct. 15th to 22nd, many flocks. - -Twite, _Linota flavirostris_.--One station only, the Kentish Knock, -Oct. 24th, misty with rain, "Mountain Linnets," Larks and Starlings -through the night; sixty picked up on deck, as many more went -overboard. Nov. 8th, one caught on deck. - -Tree Sparrow, _Passer montanus_.--Flocks of Sparrows[11] were noticed -at several stations south of the Humber. At the Outer Dowsing, on -Sept. 29th, at noon, and Oct. 13th, 2 p.m., travelling from E. to W. -At the Kentish Knock, Oct. 22nd to Nov. 8th, going from S.E. to N.W.; -on Nov. 8th two came on board. At the Nore, Oct. 27th and Nov. 15th, -on latter day mixed with Larks. At the Goodwin, Oct. 6th and 22nd, -passing to W.N.W. At the Gull-stream, Oct 16th, large numbers of -Sparrows and Linnets going W.; also on the 24th, 3.30 p.m., flocks -200 yards apart. At the East-side, Nov. 8th, 9 a.m., a flock going -E. to W. At the South-sand Head, Oct. 8th, "French Sparrows"; 16th, -the same, some settled on board. Time of migration Sept. 29th to Nov. -15th--forty-eight days. During September and October Tree Sparrows -usually arrive in North-East Lincolnshire in flocks containing many -hundreds. This year has been quite an exceptional one, and only a few -stragglers have been seen. I suspect the persistence of north-westerly -winds in the autumn has driven these and the great body of our -immigrants much further southward than is usual. The returns indeed -show this to be the case. - -[Footnote 11: It is not improbable that in some of the returns the -entries may refer to the Common Sparrow. We know, however, that Passer -montanus is such a constant and regular migrant to our east coast -in the autumn that in the majority of cases it will refer to this -species.--_J. C._] - -House Sparrow, _Passer domesticus_.--Only once mentioned, at the -Corton, Sept. 28th, 7.50 a.m., large flock going west, males and -females. As the female of the preceding is undistinguishable from the -male, this entry undoubtedly refers to the Common Sparrow. We know -that the House Sparrow is a migrant across Heligoland,[12] and my own -observations on the Lincolnshire coast tend to the same conclusion. - -[Footnote 12: See a letter by Mr. Gätke in 'The Times,' March 31st, -1877, on the "Migration of Sparrows."] - -Starling, _Sturnus vulgaris_.--Next to the Lark, the Starling -occupies the most prominent position in the reports. It is noticed -both north and south of the Humber at seventeen stations:--the -Longstone, Coquet Island, Teesmouth, Outer Dowsing, Inner -Dowsing, Leman and Ower, Cromer, Newarp, Cockle, Galloper, -Kentish Knock, Nore, North Foreland, Goodwin, Gull-stream, -East-side, and South-sand Head. Enormous numbers passed the -southern stations in October, November and December. Sometimes -in separate flocks, sometimes mixed with other birds. They -crossed at all hours of the day and night, and in all winds and -weather. Earliest recorded, Cromer, June 10th, 2 a.m., "quantity"; -the Newarp, 7 a.m., on July 4th, going E. to W.; these were -young birds.[13] Leaving out the earliest dates as referring to the -migration of the young, we find that the regular immigration -on to our east coast commenced on Sept. 22nd, when four were -killed against the lantern of the Longstone at 3 a.m., to Dec. 16th -at the Leman and Ower--eighty-six days; migration E. to W. The -Starling, like the Lark, appears to have a particular facility for -immolating itself against the lanterns. At the Leman and Ower -large nmnbers of Starlings, along with Larks and Chaffinches, were -taken in October; at the Galloper (see Sky Lark); also at the -North Foreland, and many other instances too numerous to -mention. At Heligoland this year there have been no young -Starlings during July; Mr. Gätke says he may perhaps have seen -a hundred, and this is all. - -[Footnote 13: This bears out Mr. Gätke's observation in a letter -dated Heligoland, 1879, when he says, "Hundreds of thousands of young -Starlings from end of June to end of July. Hundreds of thousands of -old birds during October, November, and later; young and old strictly -divided in their migrations."] - -Hooded Crow, _Corvus cornix_; Rook, _C. frugilegus_; Daw, _C. -monedula_.--The migration of Rooks is not noted on the English coast -north of the Humber; south of this they were noticed at nearly every -station as either Rooks or "Black Crows," to distinguish them from -the Hoodie or Grey Crow. Immense numbers of both Rooks and Grey Crows -crossed on Oct. 16th from daylight to dark, travelling from E. to -W. Noticeably at the Inner Dowsing, on Oct. 16th, large number of -Crowds, from N.E. to W.; at Hunstanton, on the 17th, Hooded Crowds and -Rooks all day; at the Newarp, on the 16th; at the Cockle, the same -day "height of rush," Crows and Rooks, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., going W., -and again on the 22nd, 23rd and 24th, large numbers of Crows, Rooks, -Starlings and Larks, from daylight to dark, passing W.; again on Nov. -8th, large flocks of Crows. At the Corton, on Oct. 16th and 22nd, -continuous flocks of Crows, Daws and Larks all day, E. to W., also -Nov. 8th and 11th and Dec. 27th. At the Shipwash, Oct. 15th and 16th, -constant on 15th, till 12 a.m.; on 16th, 9 a.m. to 3.20 p.m., from -S.S.E. to N.N.W. At the Goodwin, Oct. 15th to 21st, Crows "in shoals." -At the South-sand Head, Oct. 16th, Rooks, 9.30 a.m., going W.N.W. and -N.W.; and seven other stations. In the returns it is impossible in -many cases, under the general entry of "Crows," to separate the Hooded -Crow from the Rook. It appears, however, that immense numbers of the -_Corvidæ_ crossed the North Sea; Rooks at stations south of the Humber, -and Hooded Crows at both northern and southern stations from Oct. -15th to Nov. 19th. Both Rooks and Hooded Crows appear to have started -simultaneously on Oct. 15th, and passed across the North Sea from E. to -W. in almost continuous flocks on the 16th and 17th; and after these -dates in more scattered detachments, less and less to Nov. 19th. And -again during the latter, part of December; the last entry is on Dec. -27th at the Corton, Crows passing E. and W. in afternoon and Larks -in hundreds. Daws are only mentioned at two stations; the Corton on -Oct. 10th and 2:2nd, continuous flocks of Daws and Crows all day; also -at the Shipwash on the 16th. At the Inner Dowsing on Oct. 22nd four -Crows remained all night on globe above the lantern, and five took up -their position in the same quarter on the night of Nov. 8th, leaving at -daylight for the Lincolnshire coast. The wind on the North Sea on Oct. -16th was N. to N.E., force 4 to 7. - -Cuckoo, _Cuculus canorus_.--On Sept. 17th, 10 p.m., at the North -Foreland, wind E., overcast, misty a Cuckoo struck the south side of -the lantern, but was not killed. - -Swallow, _Hirundo rustica_.--The spring migration was noticed at two -stations--the Cockle, June 8th, 9.20 a.m., five Swallows passed towards -land; also on July 1st at 4.30 a.m., ten passing to W.S.W.; at the -South-sand Head, July 6th, twenty at 3.30 a.m., flying towards N.N.W. -The autumn migration was observed at several stations both north and -south of the Humber. At Coquet Island, Aug. 15th, midnight, S.E., -three Swallows struck glass of lantern, but were not killed; on the -20th great numbers were seen flying about, two striking glass after -dark, but were not killed. At Whitby, on Oct. 4th, 9.30 a.m., flock -going south. At Hunstanton, on Sept. 10th, 2 p.m., a flock alighted -on lantern and gallery; and on Oct. 12th, 3 p.m., fog, twelve came up -to light and dispersed in various directions. At the North Foreland, -on Sept. 9th, 10th and 11th, about forty passed each day; and on the -21st, about one hundred flew round the lantern top for an hour. At -the South-sand Head on Sept. 28th, twelve. Swallows passed. Migration -extending from Aug. 15th to Oct. 12th--fifty-nine days. - -Swift, _Cypselus apus_.--The autumn migration of Swifts, so remarkable -in 1879 for the great numbers seen at various places on the north-east -coast (see Zool. Jan. 1880, p. 8), was observed at only two stations. -At Teesmouth, great numbers flying about during the last three days of -August. At the Nore, on Aug. 1st and 2nd, between 6 and 7 a.m., and -again on the 20th; last on Oct. 10th, 9 a.m., Swifts mixed with Larks. -At Heligoland, Martins and Swifts, "rather great numbers during August; -particularly noted on the 10th, wind S.E., Swifts a great many; on the -20th, the same." - -Charadriidæ.--The burst of severe weather during the early days in -December brought an immense influx of Plovers to our east coast from -the north; large flocks are noticed at this time at the more northern -stations, more particularly at Coquet Island on Nov. 26th and Dec. -6th, northerly and westerly winds, force from 6 to 8. There is only -one notice south of the Humber, and this early in the season. At the -Shipwash, Oct. 12th, flock of thirty Lapwings, going westward. - -Woodcock, _Scolopax rusticola_.--Was observed at the Farn Islands, Oct. -22nd, 30th (great flight), Nov. 1st, Dec. 2nd, N.E. to N.N.E. At Coquet -Island, Sept. 29th, S.W., strong, one; and Oct. 24th, also one; about -noon on both days. At Teesmouth, Nov. 2nd, three at daylight. At the -Outer Dowsing, a station more than fifty miles from the nearest land, -on Dec. 12th, two flying W. At Heligoland, Oct. 30th, N.N.W., early at -dawn, great many Woodcocks; about 100 killed. Great numbers were shot -on the Yorkshire and Lincolnshire coast on the morning of Oct. 31st, -sixty at Spurn Point alone; wind very fresh from N.E. on the previous -night with drizzly rain. The migration of Woodcocks extended from Sept. -29th at Coquet Island to Dec. 12th at the Outer Dowsing--seventy-five -days. The "great flight," at Heligoland on the morning of Oct. 30th; -east coast of England, on the night of the 30th. - -Snipe, _Gallinago media_.--At the Longstone, Sept. 17th, 2.30 a.m., -misty, one struck the lantern and was killed. At the Farn Islands, on -Dec. 2nd, 10th and 19th. At the North Foreland, on Nov. 14th, 1.30 -a.m., N., moderate gale, and again on the 21st, at 5 a.m., snow. -Snipe were killed. Very large numbers arrived in Holderness and North -Lincolnshire, from the middle to the end of November, just preceding -the outbreak of severe weather in December. They left the district -again, almost to a bird, before the middle of the month. - -Curlew, _Numenius arquatus_.--Curlews were in large flocks at Teesmouth -on Sept. 27th. At the Inner Dowsing, Sept. 1st, three going from N.E. -to S.W. At Hunstanton, on Oct. 13th, 4 a.m., fog, one struck glass of -lantern and was taken. At the South-sand Head, Aug. 13th to 29th, large -flocks, 100 to 200 in a flock, going S. and S.W. The Curlew migrates -early in the autumn, Aug. 13th to Sept. 29th. Most of these entries -will probably refer to young birds, the old Curlews coming later in -October and November. At Heligoland, Oct. 30th, many passed over. - -Anatidæ.--Between Dec. 4th and 20th Swans passed the Teesmouth from -N. to S. in some numbers; on the 4th, six; the 8th, five (four old and -one young); 14th, nine (eight old and one young); 15th, forty-three; -16th, three; 18th, two; the 20th, ten at 10 a.m., and ninety-five at 11 -a.m. On the 18th a flock of thirty was seen near Spurn, one old white -bird acting as pilot, the remainder all young, in the brown plumage. -Two Bewick's Swans were shot on the Humber on the 8th. Four passed the -Kentish Knock, on Dec. 4th, 2.15 p.m., N.E. to S.W. Two Swans, which -may have been "escaped birds" from some private waters, passed the -Teesmouth on Sept. 30th, 10 a.m., flying S.E. Geese were observed at -several stations both north and south of the Humber, going south from -Aug. 18th to Dec. 13th, the main body passing south during the last -half of November and in December. Brent or "Black Geese" are noted at -the Corton, going south, July 18th, twelve; July 30th, two flocks of -from thirty to forty; on Sept. 17th, thirty. These are very early dates -for Brent Geese,[14] Mr. Cotton, the observer, might have possibly been -led into an error by passing flocks of black Scoters. As, however, -"black ducks" are frequently mentioned in his return, this could hardly -be the case, and he appears very well able to discriminate between the -two. At the Corton, Dec. 4th, hundreds of black geese from N.E. to -S.W. from sunrise to noon--_i.e._, towards the mouth of the Thames or -Essex coast. As might have been expected, large flocks of Ducks are -constantly noted, so frequently indeed, as to defy repetition; this is -more particularly the case in the returns from the lightships. They are -noted sometimes flying S., from the land or to the land, and in fact in -every direction. Many of these would be local flocks going to and from -their feeding grounds. Immense numbers, however, coming from the north, -passed along the coast in November and December. At Coquet Island, -on Dec. 14th, 3 a.m., N.W., blowing a gale, two Eider Ducks (spelt -phonetically, "Ida" in the report) struck lantern and one was killed. - -[Footnote 14: Major C. Russell, writing from Essex, says, "The earliest -occurrence of Brent Geese on our coast I ever remember hearing of was -Sept. 29th, when many years ago one of our coast gunners, still living, -killed ten at a shot."] - -Red-throated Diver, _Colymbus septentrionalis_.--Red-throated -Divers and Mergansers are mentioned in the report from Teesmouth -during November. With regard to the first of these, Mr. Gätke sends -the following curious note, dated Dec. 22nd, 1879:--"_Colymbus -septentrionalis_, almost by the million. During the last forty years -there have never, during a single autumn, been a fiftieth part of what -we see here now every day--all passing along, principally during the -forenoon, east of the island in an E. by N. direction, which I think -they continue till coming to the Holstein coast, then strike off in a -northerly course up to the extreme north of Jutland, and from thence -cross over to the Dutch coast, perhaps next morning to renew the trip. -There are constantly so many that one scarcely can believe them always -to be fresh birds." - -Procellaridæ.--At the Longstone, on Sept. 18th, at 3 a.m., two Petrels -were caught against the lantern-windows. At Coquet Island, on Nov. 4th, -3 a.m., one killed against the lantern. At the Goodwin, Oct. 11th, five -were seen with many Larks and Starlings round the lantern at night. -Greater numbers of Procellaria glacialis have been seen off Heligoland -during the autumn than has been the case for the last twenty years. - - * * * * * - -Independent of the notes of each species, as already given, -numerous flocks of small birds were seen passing the stations, but -too far distant to determine the species. This was specially the -case at the Spurn, on Dec. 3rd and 8th; at the Cockle, on Oct. 9th; -and at the South-sand Head, on Sept. 20th. At the Kentish Knock, -on Nov. 20th, half-a-dozen small birds came on board at midnight, -which, from the written description in the margin, were probably -Greenfinches. It is, however, impossible to give even a guess at -another species which visited another lightvessel on Sept. 20th, -"Fifty very small birds--in fact, the smallest of British birds--like -a Sky Lark, but a deal smaller." From the date, they may -have been either Titlarks or Flycatchers. - -No rare migrants have been noticed, but this was scarcely to be -expected. In this respect the budget of notes supplied by that veteran -ornithologist Herr Gätke bears a striking contrast to our east coast -reports. On that small island, so favourably situated for observation, -Mr. Gätke has trained up quite a host of practical observers, and any -rare visitant will have to be very sharp if it succeeds in escaping -detection. Quoting from Mr. Gätke's letter dated Dec. 22nd, we have, -on Sept. 17th, _Sylvia fuscata_, though not got; _Anthus Richardi_ -on the 18th; _A. cervinus_ on the 20th; _Picus leuconotus_ on the -21st; then some days S.W. with rain and no birds; 26th, calm and -clear, _Emberiza pusilla_; 27th, E.N.E., _Anthus Richardi_, _Emberiza -pusilla_ (two shot), _E. aureola_ (seen); 28th, _E. pusilla_ (two -seen), _E. rustica_ (one shot); 29th, _Sylvia superciliosus_ (one); -30th, _Emberiza pusilla_ (one); Oct. 1st, _E. pusilla_ (one); Nov. 2nd, -3rd and 4th, westerly winds and nothing, but daily some _Parus ater_; -on the 5th, again, _Anthus cervinus_ (seen and heard); northerly winds, -sometimes N.E. on the 8th, a Leaf Warbler seen at close quarters, but -not procured by Aeuckens, the Heligoland birdstuffer, which Mr. Gätke -feels tolerably certain was a very rare visitant; the same day there -were two or three _E. rustica_, and one each of _A. pusilla_ and _A. -cervinus_. The rare Leaf Warbler was again seen on the 9th, but could -not be obtained; an _Emberiza rustica_ was also seen. On the 10th, _E. -pusilla_ shot and _E. rustica_ seen. On the 12th, _Muscicapa parva_ -and _Motacilla lugubris_, which latter comes there rarely in autumn. -On the 14th, _Sylvia superciliosus_ was shot by Mr. Gätke's eldest -son, and two more were seen by Aeuckens in a garden where shooting was -not permitted. On the 18th, one very fine _E. pusilla_ shot. On the -20th _Lestris affinis_ was seen close by, but not shot, as it would -have fallen in the sea and drifted away. This is the third, if not the -fourth, known occurrence of the Siberian Herring Gull at Heligoland. On -the 24th a large Redpoll was shot, which Mr. Gätke thinks can only be -the Greenland bird, _Linota Hornemanni_. - -A summary of the various returns show that four species, Larks, -Starlings, Rooks and Hooded Crows, in the order given respectively, far -outnumber any other, and of these four the Lark far exceeds the rest -in migratory numbers. As a rule, the lines of migration followed have -been from E. to W., or S.E. to N.W. direct on to the English coast. To -the middle of October we find birds rarely coming from points north of -east; after this date they appear to come occasionally from directions -north of east, between east and due north. The line of migration of -the _Anatidæ_ has been from north to south, crossing the line of the -_Insessores_ at right angles. - -There is one remarkable exception to the general rule of an east to -west route in the case of the lightvessel on the Galloper Bank, forty -miles S.S.E. of Orfordness. All entries in this return show birds -passing to the E. or S.S.E. or S.E. during October. We can only account -for this anomalous line by supposing the birds which cross the Galloper -have previously struck the English coast at some higher latitude, -and after skirting the coast line shot off again somewhere near -Orfordness and crossed the North Sea to the Belgian and French coasts -between Nieuport and Dunkerque. On Nov. 24th a great quantity of Larks -and Starlings passed the Galloper towards the N.N.E, a line which if -persevered in would eventually bring them to the Dutch coast. - -At the East-side from the 2nd to the 5th of November flocks of "Crows" -were observed passing from the S. to the N., or from the French to -the Suffolk coast. The great body of the immigrants during 1879 have -crossed at the more southern stations, the four lightships on the -Goodwin Sands, also the Nore, the Shipwash and Kentish Knock showing a -constant and continuous stream on to the south-east coast. These birds -would all cross at the narrowest part of the North Sea directly from E. -to W. to the English coast. The long prevalence of north-westerly winds -in October and November may to a great extent have deflected the lines -of migration much farther to the south than is generally the case. - -Migrants have passed the stations at all hours of the day and night, -flying at no great altitude and in almost all winds and weather. When -the nights are dark and cloudy, no stars appearing, in rain, fogs and -snowstorms, flocks of birds during the night migrations will crowd -round the lanterns of the lightships; many strike the glass and are -killed, falling on deck or pitching overboard. On these nights birds -will often remain for hours in the vicinity of a light, circling round -and round, evidently having lost their way; at the first break in the -clouds, the stars becoming visible, or the first streak of early dawn, -they will resume their flight to the nearest land. - -The "great rush" of immigrants was from the 12th to the 23rd of -October. The "final rush" took place just preceding and during the -first burst of winter, early in December. - -The occurrences when birds travel dead to windward are very rare -indeed, and then only with light winds. In the great majority of cases -birds migrate flying within two to four points of the wind, sometimes -with a "beam" wind, or even a point or two "abaft of beam." If the wind -changes during the actual passage, birds will change the direction of -their flight to suit the wind. Thus at the Shipwash, on Oct. 16th, from -9.50 a.m. to 1.20 p.m. the wind was N.N.W., flocks constantly passing -from S.E. to N.W. from 1.20 to 3.20 p.m. the wind blew from N.N.E., and -the birds passed S.S.E. to N.N.W. If subsequent observations should -prove the correctness of this rule, it will go far to account for all -the irregularities of migration--the "why" birds are seen in great -numbers in one year in any locality, and perhaps absent altogether in -following seasons. - -Subsequent to the writing of this report I have received several -communications showing a large and very remarkable influx of immigrants -on to the east coast of England in January and the first fortnight in -February, 1880. On Jan. 24th great numbers of Fieldfares were seen near -Spurn Point, between Easington and Kilnsea, and since this date they -are reported as very numerous in the locality; with the Fieldfares -came many fine old cock Blackbirds. In North-East Lincolnshire, also, -during the last fortnight in January I saw many very large flocks of -Fieldfares, apparently entirely composed of old birds; before this time -scarcely any had been seen. Mr. Gätke writes from Heligoland:--"_T. -pilaris_ all January, through night from 10th to 11th, great many; -also Oystercatchers and other waders coming from the E; also from -21st to 24th, the same." These dates agree very well with the time -of their arrival on our east coast. Short-eared Owls arrived in some -numbers at Spurn in the last week in January. A very large flock of -Snow Buntings was seen on the 8th February. On the Lincolnshire side I -noticed an immense flock of the same species, fresh arrivals, on the -5th; and on the 11th thousands, also hundreds of Larks. This final and -third "rush" of immigrants so late in the winter is curious, and may -perthaps be explained by the comparatively milder winter over Northern -Europe, compared with what we have experienced in the central and -southern zones of Europe. We have indeed a recent precedent for this in -the winter of 1877-78, when, after a long continuance of mild weather -in Scandinavia, a sharp and sudden outburst of real winter drove the -Fieldfares, as Mr. Gätke says, over Heligoland, on the night from the -27th to 28th January, in "countless flights." - - - - -_WEST COAST OF SCOTLAND._ - - -Printed forms of enquiry and letters of instruction were forwarded to -thirty-eight lighthouses on the west coast of Scotland and the Isles. -Twenty-four stations have sent in returns, and fourteen have either -sent none, or have returned blank forms, owing to the scarcity of -birds. The stations from which co-operation was asked are as follows, -commencing with the most northerly and those from which returns have -been received are marked with a *:-- - - *Cape Wrath, Sutherland; white and red alt., rev. every minute. - J. M'Gill. - *Rhu Stoir, W. Cromarty; white, interval 1 minute. William Wither. - *Butt of Lewis, Lewis; white, fixed. George Edgar. - Stornoway, Lewis; 2 lights, white, rev. ½ m., & white, fixed. R. Murray. - *Island Glass, Harris; white, fixed. William Lines. - Ushenish, North Uist; red, fixed. - *Monach Island; same tower, upp. white fl., low. red, fixed. - J. Youngclause. - Barra Head, Barra; white, interval 2½ minutes. - Rona, Skye; white fl., every 12 seconds. David Dunnett. - Kyleakin, Rosshire; white and red, fixed. David M'Culloch. - *Isle Ornsay, Skye; white, fixed. David Ross. - *Ardnamurchan Point, Argyleshire; white, fixed. David Laidlaw. - *{Hynish, Skerryvore Signal Tower, Tyree; no lights.† William Crow. - {Skerryvore, off Tyree; white, revolving every minute. " - *Dhuheartach, S.W. of Ross of Mull; white, with red sector, fixed. - J. Ewing. - *Sound of Mull, Tobermory; red, green, & white sectors, fixed. - W. M'Lellan. - Corran Ferry, Loch Eil; red and white sectors, fixed. Thomas Tulloch. - Lismore Island, Oban; white, fixed. - *Fladda, Easdale; white, with a red sector, fixed. James Langton. - *Rhuvaal, Islay; white, with red sector, fixed. David Spink. - *M'Arthur's Head, Islay; white and red sectors, fixed. Thos. Sutherland. - *Skervuile, Jura; white, revolving every ½ minute. John Ewing. - *Rhinns of Islay, Islay; white fl. every 5 seconds. Andrew Lyall. - Lochindaul, Islay; white and red sectors, fixed. William Mail. - Mull of Kintyre; white, fixed. James Thompson. - Sanda, Kintyre Sound; red, fixed. - *Devaar, Kintyre; white, revolving every ½ minute. Charles Black. - *Pladda, Arran; 2 lights 8 yards apart, white, fixed. Thomas Grierson. - *Lamlash, Arran; green, fixed. David Waters. - Turnberry, Ayrshire; white fl. every 12 seconds. Charles Black. - *Corsewall, Wigtown; white and red alternate every minute. R. Laidlaw. - *Loch Ryan, Wigtown; white, fixed. Ralph Ewing. - *Portpatrick, Wigtown; white, fixed. James Beggs. - *Mull of Galloway, Wigtown; white, intervals. M. Morrison. - *Little Ross, Kirkcudbright; white fl., every 5 seconds. W. A. Mackay. - Point of Ayr, Isle of Man; white and red alternate every min. J. Blythe. - Douglas Head, Isle of Man; white, fixed. Alexander M'Donald. - Chickens Rock, Isle of Man; white, revolving every ½ minute. - - † This station included by mistake, but retained for convenience, - bracketed with the next. - -Thanks are due to the various observers for the careful way in which -the schedules have been filled in. Excluding the Natatores, notes have -been taken on about thirty species. - - -SEPARATE REPORT OF EACH SPECIES OBSERVED. - -Hawk.--At Dhuheartach on Oct. 5th, two struck lantern at 8 a.m., light -S.E. wind, and haze; and another on the 8th, at 7 a.m., calm, with fog. -At Mull of Galloway, on July 18th, a Sparrowhawk was killed at 11 p.m., -S.E., light and calm, thick haze; and one on Aug. 15th, at 1 a.m., wind -variable, light air, fog and haze. - -Owl.--I have only two records--one seen at Dhuheartach on May 30th, at -4 p.m., wind N.W., fog; and the other at the same place on Oct. 20th, -at 3 p.m., wind E.S.E., fresh, with haze. - -Swallow, _Hirundo rustica_, L.--The most northerly station noted this -year on our west coast is Rhu Stoir, but two records here evidently -refer to the spring migration, being June 6th and 10th, when two -were seen on each day. The most northerly station noted during the -autumn migration is Ardnamurchan; thence southwards at Skerryvore, -Dhuheartach, Rhuvaal, Skervuile, Rhinns of Islay, and Loch Ryan. The -earliest date on which they were recorded is 29th July, when one was -seen at Dhuheartach at 6 p.m.; wind N., fresh, with clear weather. -The latest record is Sept. 25th, when forty or fifty were seen at -Rhuvaal, at 4 p.m.; wind S.W., fresh, with rain. The length of time -thus occupied by the migration along the west coast of Scotland was, -approximately, fifty-eight days. The greatest rush took place between -the 20th Aug. and 25th Sept.; and, as far as shown, at Ardnamurchan -and Rhuvaal. At Ardnamurchan, twenty rested all night on Aug. 20th, -and left in the morning. At Rhuvaal forty to fifty were seen, as -related above. Swallows appeared to migrate principally when the -wind is southerly (S.W. to S.E.), in light, variable, or fresh head- -or side-winds, and hazy weather. Exceptions are found, however, at -Dhuheartach on July 26th, when the wind was N., fresh, and weather -clear; and at Skerryvore on Aug. 17th, when one appeared at the lantern -about 10 p.m. (two hours after lighting up) in a N.W. light breeze, -with showers. Swallows migrate mostly by day, resting all night. My -returns show that they passed at all hours, but mostly before dark. - -Martin, _Hirundo urbica_.--Martins are noticed at two stations only, -_viz._, Butt of Lewis and Corsewall. The migration lasted between July -29th and Aug. 16th, or during eighteen days (but data are defective). -They travelled during the day, resting around the lighthouses at night, -with S. to S.E. and S.W. winds; the only one killed was when wind was -N.N.E., at Corsewall. - -Wren.--The records are few of this species: usually noticed on -migration in large numbers; they appeared at Monach Island and -Dhuheartach. The earliest date is Aug. 17th, when "some" struck at -10 p.m., and between that and 3 a.m.; wind W., and haze. The latest -date is Dec. 9th, when one was seen at 3 p.m., with S.W. breeze, and -showers. In fourteen years Mr. Edgar never saw a Wren at the Butt of -Lewis lighthouse. - -Goldcrest, _Regulus cristatus_.--At Mull of Galloway on July 18th, -alighting all night and resting. Mr. Edgar's letter of 20th Sept. -supplies the information that he has never seen Goldcrests at the -Butt of Lewis--a negative fact of value in tracing their exact lines -of flight. Perhaps in our next reports observers will state in their -remarks if any of the species noticed in this one have hitherto been -rare, or entirely absent from their stations in past years. - -Robin.--Appeared at Kyleakin, and thence southwards at Skerryvore, -Rhuvaal, Skervuile, Rhinns of Islay, and Corsewall. The largest number -recorded at Corsewall, where fifteen struck on Sept. 15th, at 11 p.m.; -wind S.W., light breeze, and haze. The earliest date is Sept. 10th--one -at Skervuile, at midnight; wind S.W., light, and cloudy. The latest is -at Rhuvaal, on Dec. 4th at 9 a.m., when one was seen; wind variable, -light breeze, clear. Thus, time occupied is between Sept. 10th and Dec. -4th. A rush took place in September between 10th and 21st, but no -large numbers are recorded; in October another rush between 7th and -18th; on the former date numbers migrated with Larks and other species -not known, and many were killed and fell into the sea at Skervuile. -At Skerryvore one seen at 7 p.m.; wind S., fresh, with fog and rain. -In September I have records on six days at four stations; in October -two at two stations, and in December one at one station--Rhuvaal; they -passed or struck mostly at night or morning, but a few through the day; -winds mostly southerly, and hazy or foggy; a few in cloudy and clear. - -Hedgesparrow.--At M'Arthur's Head, on Sept. 28th, one struck at 1 a.m.; -wind N.W., strong, with haze and rain. - -Wheatear.--Wheatears or "Stonechecks" are recorded from Skerryvore as -the most northerly station this year, and thence southward at Rhuvaal, -Skervuile, Turnberry, Corsewall, and Mull of Galloway. The earliest -appearance noted is on Aug. 15th, and the latest on Sept. 28th; thus -the migration extended over forty-four days. The greatest rush was -between Aug. 17th and 22nd. The migration took place entirely at night, -and principally with southerly winds--S., S.W., and to W.; fewer in -northerly or easterly winds. The favoured stations were Skerryvore, -Rhuvaal, and Skervuile. - -Titmice.--The negative information that Mr. Edgar never saw any Titmice -at the Butt of Lewis lighthouse is worthy of record. I have notes of -their occurrence at M'Arthur's Head and Lamlash; in each case a single -bird struck the lantern, Nov. 16th and Aug. 17th, at 6 p.m. and 10 a.m. -respectively; both during west wind, and light air. - -Fieldfare.--Occurred at Monach Island and Douglas Head, and is reported -as usually seen at Butt of Lewis, though not this year. At Monach -Island a number struck, and fifteen were killed, between 8 p.m. and 4 -a.m., on Oct. 21st and 22nd; wind S.W., fresh, and drizzling rain. At -Douglas Head one was seen on Oct. 16th, at 10 a.m.; wind N., moderate -breeze, and cloudy. - -Thrush.--The most northern station is, for 1879, Isle Ornsay. Mr. -Edgar; however, adds the general information that in most years the -Butt of Lewis yields large numbers at the lantern; thence southward -at Skerryvore, Dhuheartach, Rhinns of Islay, Lochindaul, Lamlash, -Corsewall, and Point of Ayre. The earliest date is Sept. 19th, when a -mixed flock of Thrushes and Blackbirds passed in variable winds, and -clear, at Lamlash. The latest date is Dec. 3rd, when "Thrushes" passed -Lochindaul in the "daytime." But this may be due to local influences -and hard frost then registered. The next latest date is Nov. 24th, -when one was seen in the daytime, 2 p.m.; wind N.E., fresh, clear; -this would give sixty-six days for the passage, or, taking the later -date of Dec. 3rd, seventy-six days. The rushes were on Sep. 19th (_ut -sup._); a "great rush" Oct. 21st to 28th. On Oct. 21st at Point of Ayr, -two hundred "along with Blackbirds" seen at 1.80 p.m.; wind N. and -N.W., strong, clear, with occasional showers. Also at the Rhinns of -Islay, five seen, and so through records of Oct. 22nd, 18th to 28th, -when three hundred "dark grey birds larger than a common Thrush!!?" -(probably Missel Thrush, _Turdus viscivorus_) were seen at Point of -Ayr; wind S.S.E., light, and hazy; and at Skerryvore about forty -(of which ten killed) at 7 p.m.; wind S.E., light breeze, and haze. -Thrushes travel with winds from S.E. to S.W. by preference, but also -with winds from W. to N.E., through N.; observed most, as with most -other species at lanterns, in hazy and rainy weather, but the great -rush took place in "clear, with occasional showers," and "hazy and -fine." Returns show that out of sixteen dates reported upon, only three -show a diurnal migration, but one of these three is the rush of three -hundred "dark grey birds larger than a common Thrush"[15] on Oct. 28th, -at Point of Ayr. - -[Footnote 15: We shall refer to these under "Birds unknown," but we -have thought it advisable to enter them here also; they can easily be -erased in future comparisons if better data come to hand.] - -Blackbird.--The northernmost locality is Rhuvaal, where one struck on -Dec. 1st, at 2 p.m., wind N.E., fresh; thence southwards at M'Arthur's -Head, Skervuile, Pladda, Lamlash, Corsewall, Mull of Galloway and Point -of Ayr. The earliest date is Aug. 26th, at M'Arthur's Head. The latest -date is Dec. 1st, at Rhuvaal. The time thus occupied by the migration -was ninety-seven days. The rushes took place between 13th and 21st -Oct., and the most favoured locality recorded is Point of Ayr, where on -Oct. 21st two hundred "mixed Thrushes and Blackbirds" were seen at 1.30 -p.m.; wind N.N.W., strong, and clear, with occasional showers. They -were visible at the various stations in all winds, apparently from W. -to E. and from S. to N.N.W. They appeared at all hours of the day and -night, but most of the records apply to night migration. - -Starling.--The records of the Starling are very general; the most -northern station given is Butt of Lewis, where the remark is made -that they generally strike. This year, however, the most northern is -Ardnamurchan Point, thence southward at Dhuheartach, Sound of Mull, -M'Arthur's Head, Skervuile, Rhinns of Islay, Corsewall, Portpatrick, -Mull of Galloway, and Point of Ayr. The earliest date on record is Aug. -11th, at M'Arthur's Head and Loch Ryan; at the former, one struck at 10 -p.m., in S. wind, fresh, with haze; at the latter, two struck at 11.30 -p.m.; wind E., light, with fog. The latest date is Dec. 18th, when one -was caught at Skervuile at 11 p.m.; wind S.W., fresh, with haze. Thus -the time occupied in passage was one hundred and thirty days, but the -last date may have been due to local influence and keen frost at that -time registered. The next latest date is Nov. 23rd, which would make -the time spent in passage one hundred and four days. Rushes took place -more frequently than with most species noted; thus, Sept. 19th, Oct. -12th to 25th, and Nov. 11th and 17th, may all be characterised as dates -of rushes. The most favoured localities were Corsewall and Portpatrick, -for frequency of records; and Ardnamurchan Point, Dhuheartach, -Portpatrick, and Point of Ayr, for numbers of individuals. Starlings do -not seem to have any choice of wind, as far as returns show. We find -them migrating with N., W., and S.E. winds in almost equal proportions, -with a preference--but very slight--to W. winds. They also pass or -strike in E., S., and N.W. winds, but in fewer numbers. We do not think -any deductions can be drawn from these data. But Starlings breed at -many of the lighthouses or in their vicinity, so it is not always easy -to determine whether, in every instance, they are on migration or not -(as remarked by more than one reporter, _e.g._, Mr. Edgar, at the Butt -of Lewis, &c.). Out of seventeen dates reported on, only three show -migration to have taken place during the day, _viz._, at Portpatrick -(in two instances), and Ardnamurchan Point (3 p.m. in a gale). - -Finches.--At Dhuheartach on Aug. 24th, one hundred were seen and twenty -killed between p.m. and 2 a.m., wind N.N.W., with haze; on Oct. 4th, -six seen in afternoon, wind light and variable, with clear weather; -again, on Oct. 8th, two were killed at 7 a.m., calm, with fog. The -above are all the returns of "Finches." - -Linnet.--Only two records. At Rhuvaal on Sept. 9th, thirty to forty -old and young, were seen around the lantern at 10 a.m.; wind E. to N., -breeze to stormy, with haze; and at Lamlash on same date and at same -hour, fifty were seen; wind fresh breeze from W., and clear. - -Yellowhammer.--At Lamlash on Aug. 17th, one struck at 10 a.m., in light -W. wind, and fog. - -Snow Bunting.--At Monach Island, farthest north recorded, and at -Dhuheartach and Corsewall. Earliest appearance Sept. 19th, when a -flock was seen at Monach Island at noon, with S.W. light wind, and -clear weather. Latest date Dec. 10th, when one was caught at Corsewall -at 10 p.m.; wind variable, light, and haze; thus, time occupied was -eighty-two days. A. rush took place probably about Sept. 19th, when a -flock was seen at Monach Island,--but our data are scanty,--and another -about Nov. 10th, when a flock passed Corsewall. Other dates of record -are Oct. 10th and 18th; they passed in N.W. and N. winds, in clear or -cloudy weather; also in September in S.W., with clear weather, and -variable wind, with clear or haze. All the records are during the -night, except one at 12 noon, at Monach Island on Sept. 19th; wind -S.W., clear. - -Lark.--The most northern station noted this year was Dhuheartach, and -thence southward they are noticed at M'Arthur's Head, Skervuile, Rhinns -of Islay, Lamlash and Corsewall. The earliest date is Aug. 17th, when -twenty struck at Dhuheartach between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m.; wind W., with -haze. The latest date is Dec. 6th, when one struck at 9 p.m.; wind -S.E., fresh, and haze, at Corsewall; the time thus occupied was one -hundred and twelve days (but the last was no doubt due to the severe -frost inland at that time). The previous date is Nov. 18th, which would -make the time only seventy-nine days. The greatest rush appears to have -been in October, about the 12th to 24th, but the numbers observed are -so small that it is difficult to judge. The locality most favoured was -Dhuheartach, whence I have returns on eight different dates, between -Aug. 17th and Nov. 24th. An earlier rush took place about Aug. 17th -to 21st, at Dhuheartach and Skervuile. A later rush about Nov. 15th -to 18th at Dhuheartach, Skervuile, and Rhinns of Islay, but of small -dimensions. Larks appear to migrate principally when the wind is W. -to S.W., or late in the season, when still more southerly, say S. -Exceptions occur at Dhuheartach on Nov. 24, when wind was N.E., fresh, -and weather clear; at Rhinns of Islay on Nov. 7th, wind N.W., light -breeze; at Skervuile on Oct. 10th, when wind was N.; they migrate in -calm, variable, light, or fresh winds, and are noticed at lanterns -principally in haze and fog. They migrate mostly at night, at all -hours, but the majority pass between 7.30 p.m. and 4 a.m. Those passing -during the day were travelling when the wind was N. or N.E.; those -passing at night when the wind was S. to W. So the returns show; but -whether this indicates any _law of migration_ or not remains to be -proved by further observation. - -Lapwing.--The most northern station which they were observed to pass -at this season was Rhu Stoir; thence southward, they are reported at -Isle Ornsay, Lochindaul, Devaar, Pladda, and Portpatrick. The earliest -date given is Aug. 20th, when "flocks" were seen during the day in N. -wind and clear weather; the latest is Dec. 11th, when one was killed at -Pladda, at 2 a.m., wind S.E., light breeze, with haze. The next latest -date given is Nov. 14th, when twenty-two were seen at 8.30 a.m. at -Portpatrick, wind S.E., and haze. The time occupied, therefore, this -year is from eighty-six to one hundred and thirteen days. Rushes took -place about the 20th to 25th August, when several flocks passed Isle -Ornsay and Lochindaul; again, Sept. 16th to 25th, a flock at Devaar, -Portpatrick and Chickens Rock; another rush at Rhu Stoir, Portpatrick -and Lochindaul about Oct. 27th. Lapwings travelled in clear or haze, -rain, or showers, principally in S. and S.E. winds, on the west coast; -but also in N. wind on Aug. 20th, and in W. and S.W. at Rhu Stoir and -Lochindaul on Oct. 23rd and Nov. 1st respectively They appear to travel -equally by day and night. - -Plover.--Three stations give returns of this species, _viz._, -Skerryvore, Rhinns of Islay, and Portpatrick. The earliest date is July -27th, at Portpatrick. The latest date is Oct. 18th, at Skerryvore. The -time thus occupied by the migration was fifty-three days. The principal -rush took place about the beginning of September, and the favoured -station was Portpatrick, where they were always observed prssing inland -with a S. to S.W. wind, light or strong breeze, during the daytime. -Individuals struck lantern of Rhinns of Islay at night, when wind was -N., N.W., or S.E. - -Oystercatcher, _Hæmatopus ostralegus_.--At Isle Ornsay on Nov. 18th, -one struck at 10.30 p.m.; wind S., light, with haze, and rain. - -Heron.--At Dhuheartach on Oct. 8th, one seen at 7 a.m.; calm, fog. At -Rhuvaal, Oct. 1st to 30th, "Storks" (afterwards identified as Herons) -passed at 9 a.m.; wind variable, light, with showers. - -Curlew.--Island Glass is the most northern station noted for this -species; southwards at Dhuheartach, Pladda, Portpatrick and the Mull -of Galloway. The earliest date recorded is Aug. 3rd, when eighteen -were seen passing Portpatrick at 10 a.m., wind E.S.E., strong breeze, -with haze; the latest date is Nov. 20th, when eight were seen passing -Island Glass, flying southward, at 2 p.m., wind light S.W., with clear -weather Thus the time occupied was one hundred and nine days. A rush -took place in August--say 3rd to 26th--and again in November, 15th to -20th. Dhuheartach seemed to be a favourite station. Curlews migrated in -all winds, and "boxed the compass" from E.S.E., through S. to S.W., W. -and N.N.W.; they passed mostly at night. Two exceptions were at 10 a.m. -on Aug. 3rd, and 2 p.m. on Nov. 20th, at Portpatrick and Island Glass -respectively. - -Whimbrels ("Small Curlews"), _Numenius phæopus_.--At Lochindahl on -Sept. 20th, seen for several days in flocks; wind S. to W., and rainy. - -Sandpiper (sp.?)--At Rhinns of Islay on Aug. 22nd, one struck at 1 -a.m.; wind S.E., light, and haze. - -Turnstone, _Strepsilas interpres_.--At Rhinns of Islay on Nov. 8th, one -struck at night; wind S.W., fresh, and haze. - -Snipe.--At Isle Ornsay, a single Snipe takes position as the -northernmost recorded at the lighthouses of the west coast in 1879, as -late as Oct. 20th, killed at 10 p.m.; wind N., clear. Thence, records -at Skerryvore, Dhuheartach, Rhinns of Islay, Pladda, Mull of Galloway, -and Douglas Head. The earliest date, Aug. 20th ("sp. not known"), 4 -a.m. at Pladda; wind S.E., strong breeze, and haze.[16] As a doubt -occurs, next earliest date--a long jump later--is Oct. 11th at Rhinns -of Islay when one was killed between 12 p.m. and 3 a.m.; wind N., -light, with haze. The latest date is Nov. 15th, when, at Rhinns of -Islay, sixteen were killed between 6 p.m. and 4 a.m., wind S., breezes -and haze; and another record occurs at Pladda. Thus from Oct. 11th to -Nov. 15th marks thirty-five days for passage. Snipe are thus seen to -make a rapid passage. (Local migrations occur earlier from moors to -lowland marshes in Scotland, September always producing home-bred birds -in our lowland marshes.) Rush of foreign birds middle of November, -1879, as far as we can judge; but on Oct. 18th "numbers" kept about all -night round lantern of Skerryvore; wind S.E., light breeze, fog, and -rain. Migration mostly at night, judging from records, but also by day. - -[Footnote 16: This may have been a Sandpiper.] - -Woodcock.--The northernmost station on west coast in 1879 is Island -Glass; thence southwards at Dhuheartach, Rhinns of Islay, Lochindaul, -Devaar, Corsewall, Mull of Galloway, and Douglas Head. Small numbers -recorded in all cases, except at Lochindaul, when about forty passed -during the daytime on Dec. 12th, when the wind was variable, light, -and the weather clear. The earliest date was Oct. 11th; one killed at -Rhinns of Islay at 10 p.m., wind N., light, clear; the latest Dec. -12th. Too few data to fix rushes, except the one in December, which -no doubt was directly caused by the severe frosts then recorded; wind -N. and W., except on two occasions, on Oct. 7th at Douglas Head, wind -E.; and on Oct. 30th at Mull of Galloway, wind E.; and on two others, -_viz._, variable and light, when (in the hard frost) the forty were -seen. - -Corn Crake, _Crex pratensis_.--Heard for first time at Lochindaul, June -2nd; at Kyleakin, June 9th, wind S.W., clear; and at Skerryvore, June -20th, wind strong S.E., with fog. - -Wild Geese (sp.?).--At Monach Island a flock "mixed old and young" -passed south at 10 a.m. on Dec. 13th, wind S.S.W., fresh breeze, with -haze; this is the most northerly station noted. Thence southward they -were seen at Kyleakin (passing N.W.) at 8 a.m., wind N.W., fresh -breeze, and clear weather; also at Sound of Mull, M'Arthur's Head and -Devaar. The earliest date is Aug. 17th (passing N.W.), and the latest -Dec. 15th (twenty-four passing W., at Sound of Mull). A migratory -movement is thus seen to have extended over one hundred and nineteen -days. A rush took place on Oct. 20th and 21st, at Sound of Mull and -M'Arthur's Head; and again on December 18th, 14th and 15th, at Monach -Island, M'Arthur's Head, and Sound of Mull respectively; the direction -of their flight was usually W. or N.W. On Dec. 13th a flock passed -S.; most passed with a S., S.S.W. or S.W. breeze, in cloudy or clear -weather; in two instances with a N.W. wind. They were observed during -daylight. - -Wild Swan.--At Devaar on Dec. 11th, six seen at 4 p.m., light airs, -with haze; and on Jan. 4th, three were seen flying south, in clear -weather, at Rhuvaal lighthouse. We say nothing of the reported -occurrence of _Cygnus americanus_ on our coasts, but think the record -(p. 111) premature. - -Wild Duck.--At Butt of Lewis a Duck was killed on Dec. 1st, at 8 p.m., -wind E., light and clear. Others occurred in November and December at -Rhuvaal and Devaar. At Rhuvaal, between Nov. 1st and 30th, three or -four hundred Ducks passed between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.; wind variable, -light, and showery weather. Most of the migration seems to have been -observed through the day. In none of the reports are the species -identified, being described as either "Ducks" or "Wild Ducks." - -Widgeon, _Anas penelope_.--At Monach Island on Oct. 27th, a few were -seen at 12 noon; wind S.S.E., fresh, and clear. - -Sheldrake, _Tadorna vulpanser_.--At Pladda, on May 23rd, six (two males -and four females) seen at 1 p.m., wind N.E., light, and haze; remained -on the island till the middle of June. - -Eider Duck.--At Rhu Stoir on June 30th, two males and two females seen -at 11 a.m.; wind S., fresh breeze, showers. At Dhuheartach on Dec. 3rd, -twenty seen at 10 p.m.; wind N.E., light, clear. At Devaar on Dec. -13th, twelve seen at 1 p.m.; wind N.N.W., light breeze, haze. - -Storm Petrel.--At Butt of Lewis in July, August, and September, an -occasional bird at the glass, always at night, always in hazy or rainy -weather, generally "haze and rain" together; wind in three out of four -instances S.W., and once on July 3rd, W.N.W., stormy. At Rhu Stoir a -good many were observed "not on passage" between 17th and 20th Aug. -between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m., wind N. to E., light, haze and rain; and at -Rhinns of Islay on Sept. 17th, one struck at 2 a.m., wind S., light, -and haze. - -Sea-fowl.--The following notes upon sea-fowl as observed at several -stations--notably at Cape Wrath--will, we think, prove interesting:--At -Cape Wrath, Mr. M'Gill reports all the sea-fowl as deserting their -breeding-haunts there on Aug. 16th, and both old and young flying -westwards. He roughly estimated the numbers which passed within his -ken as follows:--300 to 400 Guillemots, 800 to 900 Razorbills, 800 to -900 Puffins, 100 Scarts, and 300 Sea-gulls. This was performed in an -east wind, during hazy or rainy weather (see also under Solan Goose), -and all left Cape Wrath in one day and about the same time, _viz._, 10 -a.m. The Gulls passed continuously between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Notes from -other stations can hardly be considered as applying to anything but -local daily migration in search of food, as is constantly witnessed at -any rock-bird station on the coast; thus, at Rhu Stoir large numbers -passed towards S.W., and are specially noted on June 12th to 15th; also -at Kyleakin, a large flock passed southward at 2 p.m., wind S.E. When -at the Shiant Isles this summer, at the end of June, I witnessed a -regular departure of thousands of Puffins to their feeding-grounds in -the Little Minch, about 9 to 10 a.m. - -Sea Gulls.--At Cape Wrath on Aug. 10th, three hundred passed west -between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.; wind E., haze, and rain. "Sea Gulls bred -at the station, and all left on the same day, both young and old. The -migration goes all to the west." - -Kittiwake, _Rissa tridactyla_.--At Skervuile on May 31st, two at noon -flying north; calm, clear. - -Tern.--At Dhuheartach, six seen on the evening of Aug. 27th, wind S., -cloudy; and four at the same station on the morning of Sept. 4th. - -Birds unknown.--At Portpatrick on July 12th, a flock of small birds -passed overhead at 8.30 a.m., wind S.S.E., fresh, and rainy; and on -Oct. 13th a flock passed inland at 4.20 p.m., wind S.W., and rain; -on Nov. 13th "a flock of birds not known" passed inland, wind E. by -N., and clear. At Pladda on Aug. 20th, one Snipe, species not known, -at 4 a.m., wind S.E., strong, and haze; and another on Nov. 15th. -At Skervuile, on Nov. 14th, a number from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., wind -variable, light, and haze; and others on Oct. 7th at Skervuile; "many -killed and fell into the sea." - -Red-breasted Merganser.--At Corsewall, on July 20th, a "strange Duck" -(since identified as a Red-breasted Merganser) was killed at glass at 2 -a.m.; wind E., light, with haze. - -Solan Goose, _Sula bassana_.--At Cape Wrath and other stations upon our -coasts, an extraordinary annual migration of Solan Geese is witnessed. -Mr. M'Gill has reported to me specially on that of 1879, and kept as -accurate a record as possible of the numbers which he estimated to -pass westward. He writes as follows:--"The number of Solan Geese that -migrate past Cape Wrath is beyond anyone's power to number, but I have -come as near to it as possible. The first half of July the flocks were -composed of old birds, and the rest of the time they were mixed old and -young." Mr. M'Gill then gives the following list of Solan Geese seen -passing west on fifteen days, between 14th July and 9th August, which I -reproduce here:-- - - July 14th. 600 to 700. 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wind E. Clear. - " 15th. 200. 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. " E. Haze. - " 16th. 40 to 90. 12 noon to 7 p.m. " E. Haze. - " 22nd. 200 to 400. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. " N.-N.E. Fog, rain. - " 24th. 100 to 200. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. " S.W. Clear. - " 26th. 300 to 400. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. " S.W. Haze. - " 28th. 90 to 100. 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. " S.W. Haze, rain. - " 31st. 60 to 80. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. " S. Haze, showers. - Aug. 1st. 100 to 300. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. " W. Haze, rain. - " 3rd. 300 to 400. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. " E. Clear. - " 4th. 60 to 70. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. " E. Fog, clear. - " 5th. 20 to 30. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. " N.E. Fog, rain. - " 7th. 40 to 50. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. " N. Fog, rain. - " 8th. 20 to 40. 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. " N. Fog, rain. - " 9th. 20. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. " N. Haze. - -Thus it will be seen that from 2150 to 3080 were estimated to pass -westward within view of Cape Wrath, between July 14th and August 9th, -during fifteen days occupied on migration. All which were observed -passed during the day--say between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.--and apparently -in all winds and weather. From the Butt of Lewis Mr. Edgar supplies the -general information that the Solan Geese pass the station, arriving -first in May, and leaving in the latter end of October, but giving no -particulars as to direction of flight. At Mull of Galloway Solan Geese -are reported as passing, on July 19th, in flocks. Mr. N. B. Morrison -reports as follows:--"Saw them flying past to W.S.W. in wedge-shaped -flocks as if on a passage, or changing locality." This was during -the forenoon; wind S., light, and haze. "At 1 p.m. it began to rain, -and continued for twenty-four hours; rain guage at 9 a.m. of 20th, -1·72 inches. On 21st, 22nd, 23rd, and 24th, very strong breeze, and -showers; wind W.N.W. to S.W." Again at same station (Mull of Galloway) -flocks continued passing all day; wind S.E., fresh, fog, and rain, -flying in same direction. On 8th and 9th, wind S., gale; 10th, wind -W., strong. In a later note Mr. M'Gill believes "that the Solan Geese -strike the land first at Cape Wrath," and that the Geese which pass it -are from Suliskerry. - - * * * * * - -On the west coast of Scotland, also, many observers make particular -mention of the scarcity of autumnal migrants in 1879. At several -principal and important stations this scarcity is of course most -remarked upon, such as Butt of Lewis, Monach Island, Island Glass, -Skerryvore, and Dhuheartach. During long experience at these and other -stations, the several observers do not remember such great scarcity of -birds during the autumn migration. From other observers' remarks it -would appear that several of the west coast stations are not suitable -for observations being made, from their land-locked situations or other -local influences, such as Kyleakin, Sound of Mull, Corran Ferry, and -others. - -Many birds are killed at the lanterns of the more isolated lighthouses -and are blown into the sea. Thus, in 1877, at Skerryvore, in the -month of October, the number of birds killed was six hundred, chiefly -the Common and "Mountain Thrush" (Ring Ouzel), but including also -Blackbirds, Snipes, Larks, and one Wild Duck. The observer, Mr. W. -Crow, was of opinion that about two hundred more were killed and -blown into the sea. They came every night from the 1st to the 6th, -about 8 p.m., and went away at daylight. "I would estimate," he says, -"the number about the light on each of the above nights to be about a -thousand." The direction of the wind was from S.S.E. to S., with haze; -and no migration of birds was observed during the day. On Dhuheartach -lighthouse rock, "two Hawks are seen every morning" while the migration -lasts, which come to prey upon the small birds resting on the rock. A -considerable flight of migrants took place about Oct. 7th, as upon the -east coast. - -The direction of the flight of migrants appears to be from east to -west at the north coast stations, but from N.W. and N.N.W. to S.W. or -S.S.W. at the stations farther south; and this is borne out by previous -observations in former years by my west coast observers at Tyree and -elsewhere. Our observers have not usually reported the direction taken -by the migrants, but there are enough data to prove the above lines. -It would appear, therefore, that birds when passing from east to west -often overshoot the land, and are compelled to turn back upon a new -course, according to the direction of the wind. In 1878, Mr. W. Boyd -(since deceased) wrote regarding the migration in Mull as follows:--"In -the month of October I was fishing on Loch Assapol, near Bunessan. -Almost every day I saw flock after flock of little birds--Larks, -Buntings, Robins, and even Wrens--flying across the loch. All these -birds were steering the same course, having apparently come from the -outlying Hebrides, _viá_ Tyree, Iona, up the Rose of Mull, and were -steering for the mainland. Fresh arrivals of different species of Ducks -rested and then passed on. Wild Swans and Geese were seen far up in -the air, all taking a bee-line for the south." On another occasion -Mr. Boyd visited Tyree in December, 1878, and both he and a companion -remarked "the extraordinary scarcity of common birds, and the unusual -number of winter visitors." One day every Snipe they put up, instead -of flying a bit and settling again, rose high in air, and went off -due south-east as far as they could see, right across the sea, to -Mull. The remark was then made, "The sooner we go south for powder and -provisions the better; we are going to have an arctic winter," which, -as is well remembered, was a perfectly correct surmise. It will thus -be seen that the flights of wildfowl almost invariably are from N. to -S. on both coasts, but that the smaller birds--land birds--as they fly -lower, are more influenced by the configuration of the coast-lines, and -also, no doubt, by the direction of the wind at the time. Our data are -at present too scanty to lay down with precision the minutiæ of their -lines of flight, but another year's observations will probably greatly -assist us. The same rules, as to time of day or night at which birds -strike the lantern, holds upon the west coast which also obtain on the -east, and the same remarks as to weather also hold good. - -The above remarks upon the direction of the flights upon our west -coast may prove of value in a comparison with Mr. Cordeaux's notes -upon the direction of the flights at the Galloper Bank. We are aware -here that birds pass overland on migration, crossing Scotland between -the Firths of Clyde and Forth, as they have been heard on calm nights -crying as they passed over from W. to E., or from points N. of W. to -points S. of E.; and day-flights have often been observed passing here -from N.N.W. towards S.S.E., or from N.W. to S.W. I would instance here -Bramblings, _Fringilla montifringilia_, natives of Northern Europe. -(See Gray's 'Birds of the West of Scotland,' p. 137. The "column" -of Bramblings there described as on migration were not "proceeding -in a north-easterly direction," however, as stated by Mr. Gray, but -were coming from a north-westerly direction, and were proceeding in a -south-easterly direction.) - - - * * * * * - - -Transcriber Note - -Minor typos were corrected. Several quotaion closures were missing and -added in the most likely place. 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