Chapter III: Part 3

Stevns Fyr, Zealand, Denmark, 1882.

April 14th. _Turdus musicus_ 2.
" " _Saxicola œnanthe_ 2 males.
" 15th. _Sylvia rubecula_ 1 male.
" " _Emberiza miliaria_ 1.
" 19th. _Numenius arquatus_ 1.*
" " _Turdus musicus_ 1.
" " _Saxicola œnanthe_ 3 males and 8 females.
" " _Turdus iliacus_ 1.
" 24th. _Emberiza passerina_ 1 caught alive.
" 29th. _Turdus musicus_ 1.
May 9th. _Sylvia schœnobænus_ 1.
" 11th. _Luscinia philomela_ 1 alive.†
" " _Emberiza hortulana_ 1 " †
" 12th. _Muscicapa atricapilla_ 1.
" 18th. _Sylvia cinerea_ 2.
" " _S. phragmitis_ 1.
" " _S. rufa_ 1.
" " _S. trochilus_ 1.
Sept. 21st. _Turdus torquatus_ 1.
" " _Sylvia rubecula_ 5.
" " _S. curruca_ 1.
" " _Ruticilla phœnicurus_ 2.
Oct. 10th. _Sylvia rubecula_ 1.
" 21st. _Turdus iliacus_ 2.
" " _Alauda arvensis_ 4.
" " _Regulus cristatus_ 2.
" " _Emberiza schœniclus_ 1.

* Is often seen swarming around the lighthouse at the time of its migration--six or seven on this night flew against the panes without being killed, and two others were caught alive. About forty Redbreasts and Wheatears were caught on the same night, but set at liberty again in the morning. On clear moonlight nights nothing at all is caught or found.

† According to Mr. Antander were not sent to museum.

Mr. Gätke sends the following notes of an extraordinary migration of the Silver Gamma Moth, _Plusia gamma_, across Heligoland in August, 1882:--

On Aug. 13th, at 1 a.m. till 4, thousands on thousands passed the Heligoland lighthouse, travelling E. to W. From 11 p.m. on the 15th, till 3 a.m. on 16th, millions, like a snow-storm, all belonging to the same species, passed forward in the same direction. Again, on the 18th, from 11 p.m. till 3 a.m. on the 19th, thousands on thousands were observed under the same circumstances. Some scores caught for identification were all in most perfect plumage; no fading or abrasion.

General Remarks.

The observations taken along the E. coast of England in the spring and autumn of 1882 have been such as to confirm the conclusions arrived at in previous reports.

As in 1880 and 1881, the line of autumn migration has been a broad stream from E. to W., or from points S. of E. to N. of W., covering the whole of the E. coast. In 1880 a considerable proportion of the immigrants crossed at the more southern stations; in 1881 they covered the whole of the E. coast in tolerably equal proportions; but in 1882 the stations N. of the Humber show a marked preponderance of arrivals.

Although migration has extended over an unusually long period, commencing in July and continued with but slight intermission throughout the autumn and into the following year to the end of January, yet the great mass of immigrants arrived on our E. coast in October, and a large proportion of these during the first fortnight in the month. From Oct. 6th to 8th, inclusive, and again from the 12th to the 15th there was, night and day, an enormous rush, under circumstances of wind and weather, which observation has shown are most opposed to a favourable passage. During these periods birds arrived in an exhausted condition, and we have reasons for supposing, from the number reported as alighting on fishing-boats and vessels in the North Sea, that the loss must have been very considerable; large flights also are recorded as having appeared round the lanterns of lighthouses and light-vessels during the night migration. From the 6th to the 9th, inclusive, strong E. winds blew over the North Sea, with fog and drizzling rain, and from the night of the 12 to 17th very similar weather prevailed. Mr. W. Littlewood, of the Galloper L.V., moored on the bank of that name forty miles S.E. of Orfordness, reports that on the night of Oct. 6th, Larks, Starlings, Mountain Sparrows, Titmice, Common Wrens, Redbreasts, Chaffinches and Plover were picked up on the deck, and that it is calculated five to six hundred struck the rigging and fell overboard; a large proportion of these were Larks. Thousands of birds were flying round the lantern from 11.30 p.m. to 4.45 a.m., their white breasts, as they dashed to and fro in the circle of light, having the appearance of a heavy fall of snow. This was repeated on the 8th and 12th, and on the night of the 13th 160 were picked up on deck, including Larks, Starlings, Thrushes and two Redbreasts; it was thought one thousand struck and went overboard into the sea. It is only on dark rainy nights, snow or fog, that these casualties occur; when the nights are light, or any stars visible, the birds appear to give the lanterns a wide berth.

Unquestionably the principal feature of the autumn migrations has been the enormous arrival of the little Gold-crested Wren. The migrations appear to have covered not only the E. coast of England, but to have extended southward to the Channel Islands and northward to the Faroes (see Report East Coast of Scotland, Harvie Brown). On the E. coast of England they are recorded at no less than twenty-one stations, from the Farne Islands to the Hanois L.H., Guernsey. The earliest notice is Aug. 6th, the latest Nov. 5th, or ninety-two days; during the same period enormous numbers crossed Heligoland, more especially in October, and quite up to the end of the month. On the night from the 28th to 29th Mr. Gätke remarks, "We have had a perfect storm of Goldcrests, poor little souls, perching on the ledges of the window-panes of the lighthouse, preening their feathers in the glare of the lamps. On the 29th all the island swarmed with them, filling the gardens and over all the cliff,--hundreds of thousands; by 9 a.m. most of them had passed on again."

Not less remarkable was the great flight of the Common Jay past and over that island early in October, on the 6th, 7th, and 8th; thousands on thousands without interruption passing on overhead like Crows, N. and S. of the island too, multitudes like a continual stream, all going E. to W. in a strong south-easterly gale. It would have been an interesting fact if we had been able to correlate this migration of Jays with any visible arrival on our English coast, but in none of our returns is any mention made of the Jay. Mr. Matthew Bailey, of Flamborough, told me that on one evening early in October (the exact date he was not able to give) he had observed at dusk large flights of birds, about the size of Jackdaws, coming to land, and was struck with the good headway they seemed to make against a strong wind. It was too dark, however, to make out what they were. Subsequently I have received numerous notices speaking of the extraordinary number of Jays seen during the winter in our English woodlands. This seems especially to have been the case south of a line drawn from Flamborough Head to Portland Bill, in Dorset.[9]

[Footnote 9: Common Jay. Additions and unusual numbers observed at Arden, on Loch Lomond side, subsequently reported by James Lumsden, Esq., is the only report of Jays I have got in Scotland.--J. A. H. B.]

Extraordinary numbers of the Common Hedge Sparrow (_Accentor modularis_)--"the dunnock" of the English schoolboy, the "blue Janet" of Scotland--passed over Heligoland in October, more especially on the 6th, 7th, and 8th; and it is curious that on the 8th of the same month they swarmed in astonishing numbers, both at Spurn and in N.E. Lincolnshire.

The Woodcock arrived on the east coast on the night of Oct. 12th, or early morning of the 13th; wind E., strong, fog, and drizzling rain. On the morning of the 13th they are recorded from nine stations, covering 250 miles of coast-line, from the Farne Islands to Orfordness.[10] It is fair to suppose that this, the "great flight" of the season, did not start from the same locality, but from various parts of the opposite coast of Europe,--places widely apart. Both previous and subsequent to their passage the weather had been much of the same character over the North Sea. Why they should start simultaneously on this special evening, and how they managed to "keep touch," to use a military term, during a passage of several hundred miles across a stormy sea, in fog and drizzling rain, so as to arrive about the same time at their Tel-el-Kebir on our English sand-hills, is one of those points in the phenomena of migration which will probably take some time and more extended observations, especially on the opposite coast-line, to clear up.

[Footnote 10: I Also "great flight" same time, Isle of May. East coast of Scotland report.]

An interesting entry in one of the returned schedules, that from the Inner Dowsing L.V., placed seventeen miles E. of Sutton, on the Lincolnshire coast, is that of two Hawfinches, which came on board on the evening of Oct. 20th, a strong S.S.W. wind blowing, and remaining all night, left again at daybreak, their course being from S.E. to N.W., the course followed by a large proportion of our immigrants. As far as we are aware this is the first notice of Hawfinches having been seen at sea. At Heligoland, Mr. Gätke says the species is a well-known customer, never in any numbers, but every spring and fall some, betraying itself forthwith by its peculiar call-note, so out of all proportion with its colossal beak.

There are some birds occurring on our east coast year by year with tolerable regularity, which, during the autumn of 1882, have been remarkable for their scarcity. This has been the case with all the large raptorial birds, and especially with the Short-eared Owl, and Common Linnet and Twite. Their absence on migration has also been remarked upon in Heligoland. The Short-eared Owl also appears to have been specially scarce on the east coast of Scotland. (See East Coast of Scotland Report.)

Our returns show very clearly that the spring lines of migration, followed by birds leaving our shores, are identically the same as those followed in the autumn, but of course in the reverse direction from W. and N.W. to E. and S.E.

As this is the fourth report issued by the Committee, we may, perhaps, with the mass of facts at our disposal, be expected to draw deductions, which, if they do not explain, will serve at least to throw some light on the causes influencing the migration of birds. We might reasonably reply that the work undertaken by us was not to theorise, or attempt explanations, but simply to collect facts and tabulate them. This we have endeavoured to do in the shortest and simplest manner consistent with accuracy of detail. There is, however, one circumstance which can scarcely fail to present itself to those who have gone carefully into the reports issued by the Committee, namely, the marvellous persistency with which, year by year, birds follow the same lines of migration when approaching or leaving our shores: the constancy of these periodical phenomena is suggestive of some settled principle or law governing the movement. It is clearly evident, from the facts already at our disposal, that there are two distinct migrations going forward at the same time; one, the ordinary flow in the spring and ebb in the autumn, across the whole of the western Palæarctic regions, which of course includes the British Isles, of a great migratory wave moving to and from the nesting-quarters of the birds in the coldest part of their range, N.E. in the spring and S.W. in the autumn. Quite independent of this there is a continual stream of immigrants, week by week and month by month, to the eastern shores of these islands, coming directly across Europe from E. to W., or more commonly from points S. of E. to others N. of W., and the reverse in the spring. These are mainly composed of those common and well-known species which annually make these islands their winter resort, and take the place of our summer birds: they come in one broad stream, cutting the line of ordinary migration at nearly right angles; one flank brushes the Orkneys and Shetlands, pouring through the Pentland Firth, even touching the distant Faroes; the southern wing crosses the Channel Islands, shaping its course in a north-westerly direction to the English coast. In our explanation of the causes which first induced, and perhaps still influences, this E. to W. migration, we must probably go back a long way in the history of the world, when the distribution of the land and water of continental Europe was very different to what it now is; when there was no North Sea, and the western coast-line of Europe was represented by what is now known as the hundred-fathom line off' the West of Ireland, a coast which on the one side touched Scandinavia, and on the other was linked with the Spanish peninsula. Great as is now the contrast between the winters of Central Russia and those of these islands, the difference would then be much more marked,--arctic cold on one hand, and semi-tropical warmth on the other.[11] It requires then no stretch of imagination to believe that great flights of birds would on the approach of winter be driven before the intense cold of Eastern and Central Europe to seek refuge and find food in the warm regions of the west, regions which then would feel the full effects of the warm equatorial currents, and enjoy an almost perpetual summer. This movement once begun would, by the very necessities of existence, and in time by an hereditary instinct, be continued. Gradually the land now occupied by the North Sea has been withdrawn from beneath the migrating flocks; year after year the middle passage became wider and more difficult; yet the habit once formed would be continued, and hereditary instinct, or whatever other name we choose to give it, supply the rest.

[Footnote 11: There are ninety species of plants, all told, common alike to Southwestern England and Ireland, and to the Pyrenean and Italian region. They represent an old flora no longer adapted to the country,--a flora of warmth and sunshine,--and now dying out under the advance of hardier, more vigorous and congenial species. They may be regarded as the last floral relics of the submerged land, that semi-tropical western land whose plants and flowers are not of Scandinavian origin, but derived from Southern Europe.]

Mr. Wallace has told us how, in the Eastern Archipelago, comparatively narrow, and probably very ancient, straits of water divide and wholly separate distinct races of birds; and we have instances of this in Europe, where species, common on the opposite coast of the Continent, rarely or never occur in the British Islands.

Small birds, like the Goldcrest, do not cross great breadths of water from choice; they doubtless would prefer a migration over land, from field to field, or hedge to hedge; or at the most closely following some old established coast-line. Why, except on some such hypothesis as stated, should they attempt the North Sea, not alone at the narrowest part, the straits of Dover, or from Ostend to the coast of Kent, but in the very widest parts also, from the Elbe to the Humber, or Danish coast to the Pentland Firth and Scotch islands? What impels our autumn visitants, the young weeks in advance of their parents, to launch westward across what, for anything they can possibly know to the contrary, may prove an Atlantic, an ocean without a further shore?

There are doubtless several causes, working separately or together, which influence migration, and we must not look for an explanation of the phenomena attending these great periodical movements to one cause only, for by doing this we lose sight perhaps of other equally powerful incentives. I have spoken in previous reports of the probability of birds following ancient coast-lines once linking now distant lands, impelled by what we call, for want of a better term, hereditary instinct, that is, an instinct derived through ancestors. It is, perhaps, an open question whether the young, which undoubtedly arrive in the autumn weeks in advance of the great mass of old birds, depend entirely on this, or whether they are in any way dependent on guidance and direction. It is a curious fact, which we have frequently remarked, that the very earliest of their kind are frequently a few old birds,--flocks of young, too, often contain a sprinkling of old female birds,--such as may be supposed have made the journey before; but it must be also borne in mind that on dark or even starlight nights, when these movements mostly take place, any guidance, even that of call-note, would be futile at any but a very limited range.

WEST COAST OF SCOTLAND.

Schedules, &c., were sent to forty stations, the same number as in previous years. We have received filled-in schedules from thirteen stations.[12]

[Footnote 12: But the Isle of Man stations--five in number--have been taken over by Mr. P. Kermode, as he is on the spot, and as they really lie more into his district,]

Generally the returns are light, lighter than last year.

We have notes upon thirty-two species of land birds from this coast, and about fourteen species of water-birds, whilst the species of Waders or Littoral species may be placed at eight.

The Spring Migration I have kept distinct in this report. Weather notes included in General Remarks.

Here follows the usual list of stations, with asterisks which point out the annual returns from the beginning of the scheme, from each station.

West Coast of Scotland.

Mainland.

1879, '80, '81, '82.
* * * 81. Cape Wrath, Sutherland 400 ft.
* * * 82. Rhu Stoir, W. Cromarty 195 "

Outer Hebrides.

* * * * 83. Butt of Lewis 170 " Alex. Thompson
* * 84. Stornoway 56 "
* * * 85. Island Glass 130 "
* * * * 86. Monach Island { 150 " } J. Youngclause.
{ 62 " }
* * 87. Ushenish 176 "
88. Barra Head 683 "

Mainland, Skye, and Inner Hebrides.

89. Rona, Sye 222 "
* * * 90. Kyleakin, Rosshire 53 " D. McCulloch.
* * 91. Isle Ornsay, Skye 58 ft.
* * 92. Ardnamurchan, Pt. Argyle 180 "
* * * * {93. Hynish Signal Tower, Tyree{150 " Alx. McEachern.
{94. Skerryvore, off Tyree {
* * * * 95. Dhuheartach, S. of Ross
of Mull 145 " John Ewing.
* * * * 96. Sound of Mull 55 " W. McLellan.
97. Corran Ferry, Loch Eil 38 "
* * * 98. Lismore Island, Oban 103 " A. Murray.
* * 99. Fladda, Easdale 42 "
* * * 100. Rhuvaal, Islay 147 "
* * * 101. Mac Arthur's Head 128 " W. Maill.
* * * * 102. Skervuile, Jura 73 " John Ewing.
* * * * 103. Rhinns of Islay 159 " Andrew Lyall.
* * 104. Lochindaul 50 "
105. Mull of Kintyre 297 "
106. Sanda, Kintyre Sound 165 "
107. Devaar, Kintyre 120 "
108. Pladda, Arran 130 "
* 109. Lamlash, Arran 46 "
* * 110. Turnberry, Ayrshire 96 "
* * * 111. Corsewall, Wigtown 112 "
* * * * 112. Loch Ryan, Wigtown 46 " Ralph Ewing.
* * * * 113. Portpatrick, Wigtown 37 " Jas. Beggs.
* * * * 114. Mull of Galloway, Wigtown 325 " H. Morrison.
* 115. Little Ross, Kirkcudbright 175 "
116. Point of Ayr }
117. Douglas Head }
118. Chickens Rock } Isle of Man.
119.-1880. Bahama Rock L.V. }
120. Longness L.V. }

The last five stations are now placed at the head of the W. of England stations under Mr. P. Kermode. We are sorry to find a falling off in the returns this year and would have liked to know if any reason can be assigned for the same.

We have to thank Mr. McCulloch, at Kyleakin, for the careful records of directions of flight of the species observed. These are important, and a great assistance at arriving at conclusions.

At Skervuile, owing to an accident to his hand, no notes were kept by Mr. Ewing for some time between July and September, but fewer birds were seen than for many years back.

Turdidæ.--In autumn, at Monach, Kyleakin, Skerryvore, Dhuheartach, Rhinns of Islay, Corsewall, Loch Ryan, Mull of Galloway. No records at any stations till Oct. 11th, when three Fieldfares were killed at Monach. An indication of a rush was apparent all through October after that date of _Turdidæ_ and other species, more especially at Rhinns of Islay. Latest records on Nov. 22nd, prior to which date many Blackbirds and Thrushes frequented Corsewall for a week during a covering of snow; therefore probably only a local movement. At Kyleakin Song Thrushes and Blackbirds resided all winter up to January, 1883. In October no great rush observable, but indications of the same migration observable on the E. coast were noticed at Corsewall on the 14th, and at Dhuheartach and Rhinns of Islay on 17th; and a few Blackbirds and Thrushes showed at Skerryvore on 13th. Eight Song Thrushes were killed one night also at MacArthur's Head, and a single male Blackbird was seen in the garden at Monach on Nov. 1st. A rush of "small birds" took place during October, but in no large masses, at MacArthur's Head and Rhinns of Islay, and at Corsewall and southward. Three species of _Turdidæ_ noticed.

Saxicolinæ.--Spring records, as usual, are scanty; some five records at five stations, _viz._, Butt of Lewis, Skerryvore, Rhuvaal, MacArthur's Head and Mull of Galloway. Earliest, March 9th at Butt of Lewis; latest, on May 17th at MacArthur's Head, mostly of single Wheatears. In autumn, a few records of Wheatears from Skerryvore, Dhuheartach, Rhuvaal, and Rhinns of Islay: the earliest, Aug. 17th at Dhuheartach; latest, Oct. 16th; and an evident rush on Aug. 23rd at Rhinns of Islay, and again on Sept. 10th at Skerryvore, where over 100 were seen on the rocks.

Silviinæ.--Of Robins one spring record at Skerryvore on April 9th, a single bird resting; fair S.S.E. and haze. In autumn, at Kyleakin, Skerryvore, Lismore, Skervuile and Little Ross. Earliest, a single bird on Aug. 17th, at Skervuile; latest, two at Kyleakin (where, however, Robins arrived on Nov. 15th, and remained all winter up to close of schedule on Jan. 27th, 1883). An evident rush took place at Butt of Lewis between Sept. 14th and 30th, with Wrens on the 26th, and with Wagtails on the 28th, 29th, and 30th; in November, a few Robins, accompanied by Wrens and Linnets, at Lismore on 11th; and in October one Robin and one Wheatear, together, on 9th at Skerryvore. All the records in August, September, and October accompanied by easterly winds, the rush in September with N.E.

Phylloscopinæ.--Of Golden-crested Wrens one spring record at Mull of Galloway, on March 8th and 9th, when "great numbers" were round the lantern at midnight; wind S.W., light, clear. In autumn, earliest, Sept. 21st, at Corsewall, and 22nd and 25th at Loch Ryan; latest, and rush at Corsewall and Mull of Galloway, on 15th and 16th, when "great numbers" round lantern; strong E. and haze; straggling birds also, 8th and 9th, at same places. A significant record is on Oct. 10th, at Rhinns of Islay, north of which station we have no records. On that date eight Golden-crested Wrens struck and one was killed; wind light S.E., haze. The similarity of dates of occurrence at Mull of Galloway on W. coast and Isle of May on E. coast this year worthy of notice (see General Remarks).

Paridæ.--Of Titmice only two spring records, both at Mull of Galloway; five killed at midnight, March 18th, and great numbers flying round lantern on May 22nd; wind light E. Note approximation of dates on W. and E. coasts (see General Remarks.)

Troglodytinæ.--Of Wrens one spring record at Skerryvore; two flying about rock on May 24th; wind light N.W., clear. In autumn one on Sept. 22nd, at Lismore. Latest, Nov. 11th, a few at Lismore, and a partial rush on Oct. 8th, 9th and 11th, at Corsewall, and on Oct. 11th and 26th at Lismore, the two latter accompanied by Starlings and Robins.

Motacillidæ.--In autumn three Wagtails at Skerryvore, on Aug. 28th, two--male and female--in a garden at Kyleakin, and a few on each day at Lismore, on Oct. 28th, 29th, and 30th, with light N.E. winds. Of Pipits, four struck and two were killed at Butt of Lewis, in strong W. breeze, on March 17th; they were accompanied by Tree Sparrows. In autumn, hundreds round the Little Ross on Sept. 6th, after 8 p.m., for two hours; one killed at 12 noon, in light N. breeze, clear, at Dhuheartach, on Oct. 28th. It is not often they are recorded as killed in the daytime in clear weather. _Land Notes._--An unusual number of Pied Wagtails--fifty or more in one flock--on Sept. 25th, in Kirkcudbright (J. J. Armistead, Esq.); also two Motacilla flava seen on Sept. 11th,--a very rare occurrence at Douglas Hall.

Hirundinidæ.--Swallows: Spring records at Kyleakin, Skerryvore, Dhuheartach, Lismore, Corsewall, and Loch Ryan. Seen first on April 12th at Corsewall, and April 15th at Loch Ryan, where fifteen Swallows arrived with light N. wind and sleet. Latest records on June 15th at Lismore, and 9th at Skerryvore; not seen at Dhuheartach till May 14th. Other records at Lismore on 10th, a flock, and 13th, another flock. In autumn, one Swallow rested on window of lighthouse at Dhuheartach, on Aug. 11th, and a final movement was observed in September about the 14th and 15th, at Loch Ryan and Mull of Galloway, besides a few other records at earlier dates. _Land Notes._--Swallow first seen at Douglas Hall, Dumfriesshire on 7th. Mr. Howard Saunders, residing at St. Jean de Luz, in the Basses Pyrénées, saw the first Swallow on March 25th, along with many Wheatears and Redstarts. Woodcocks had passed but in small numbers, and only two were seen in the market.

Fringillidæ.--Tree Sparrows seen at Butt of Lewis on Feb. 20th, when four struck and two were killed; strong E. wind and haze. Again six were seen at same place and two killed on March 20th; and again six at the same place and one killed, on April 8th. House Sparrows are recorded on May 27th, at Skerryvore, flying about; and at MacArthur's Head--a number all day--on May 8th. House Sparrows were also seen at Butt of Lewis on Feb. 25th, with strong S.W. breeze, haze, and rain. In autumn, House Sparrows, a large flock at Lismore on Oct. 24th; "Finches" on Oct. 10th, at Sound of Mull; Linnets, a rush about 7th and 11th at Lismore, with a few earlier records; and on Dec. 29th, at Monach, where all left on the 20th. Some of these records probably apply to Grey Linnets, and the Monach one likely to Twites or "Mountain Linnets." Four, possibly five, species. _Land Notes._--Four Siskins seen on sand-hills on Solway Firth, on a patch of thistles; gone next morning, Oct. 17th (J. J. Armistead.) Mr. Scot Skirving, of Edinburgh, mentions, in lit., that the Chaffinch, was the most common of small birds in Islay prior to the terrible winter of 1878, but after that very rare indeed, until on Oct 22nd, 1880, a flock of some thousands appeared, and since then they have again been fairly abundant.

Emberizidæ.--Two Snow Buntings were seen at Butt of Lewis on March 21st. Autumn records: Snow Bunting Oct. 15th at Kyleakin, to Dec. 12th at Butt of Lewis. No rush apparent and records scanty; three or four in all in October and November. One Yellow Bunting on Oct. 15th, at Kyleakin. Two or three records at Dhuheartach also in October, November and December.

Alaudidæ.--In end of migration of 1881-82, under date Jan. 12th, 16th, 1882, and 18th, large parties of Larks are recorded at Lismore; wind light S. No more records till autumn, 1882. On Sept. 27th, at Corsewall, one on lantern. Latest date, Dec. 27th, at Skerryvore, two found dead; light S.S.W. and clear. Records of direction of flight usually S.E., but these records are, as are too often the case, too meagre to assist us. Direction of flight is earnestly asked for. A rush distinguishable at Rhinns of Islay on Oct. 8th and 12th. Two Larks remained all night on lantern at Dhuheartach, on Jan. 2nd, 1883.

Sturnidæ.--Starling: in spring a large flock on March 11th at Butt of Lewis, but they are resident here, and rarely come to the light; two were killed here, however, on June 7th. A record at Mac Arthur's Head; great scarcity of records of Starlings. A few autumn records only; numbers feeding for days at Rhinns of Islay, end of August. A rush apparently took place at Mac Arthur's Head, along with many "small birds," between first week of October and 31st. Records scattered through November, December, and January (1883).

Corvidæ.--"Black Crows" (probably Rooks?) which are seldom seen at Skerryvore, showed in March, when three were seen one day, and one rested on May 29th, and a "Grey Crow" on 16th. In autumn, "Black Crows," a large flock during snow, seen flying E. at Portpatrick on Dec. 14th. One Hooded Crow on 26th at Monach, flying S.W. One Raven at Kyleakin on 5th, flying S., light N.E. wind; and one Magpie ("very rare" at Kyleakin) on Jan. 7th, 1883, flying S.E. One Jackdaw rested on the rock on Feb. 11th (1883), and on the 19th two "Black Crows "were seen flying in an easterly direction; wind S.W., fresh and clear.

Cuculidæ.--Records of arrivals of Cuckoos in spring are as follows:--

Mull of Galloway April 30th. Variable, light airs.
Loch Ryan May 5th. Strong N.W.
Corsewall " 5th. Strong N.W.
Skervuile " 19th. Light E., clear.
MacArthur's Head " 10th. Light E. airs.
Lismore " 15th. Light E. airs.
Kyleakin " 3rd. ? ?

_Land Notes._--

Kinharvie, near Dumfries May 3rd (_auct._ J. J. Armistead, Esq.).
Douglas Hall May 4th " "

If a series of records could be obtained like the above from the E. coast stations, a comparison might be useful.

Strigidæ.--One record of Owl only. One "Owl" at Mull of Galloway; strong E. breeze.

Falconidæ.--No actual migration of Hawks discernible from the records. Visit Dhuheartach daily through the season, and seen at other stations occasionally. One Falcon at Kyleakin seen flying S.; light E., rain and sleet. Land Notes.--On Sept. 27th a Buzzard seen at Douglas Hall (probably a migrant); and on Nov. 1st a pair of Buzzards seen (J. J. Armistead, Esq.)

Pelecanidæ.--Movements of Gannets are noted at Lismore; two seen on May 24th, and at Mull of Galloway on 21st--large flock flying west, light E. breeze; and on 22nd about eighty also flying W., with strong S. wind, clear. In July, great flights flying S. all day at Loch Ryan, on the 8th, and two seen at Skervuile. Great flights in August at Loch Ryan, flying N., wind N.N.W., strong; Sept. 29th and 30th, at Skervuile, flying S. At Butt of Lewis, daily, from March 15th till Sept. 15th. "Daily, all the year round," at Kyleakin. Solan Geese had all disappeared from the vicinity of Dhuheartach by Nov. 14th, and they reappeared there again on Jan. 25th (1883), and other records are up to Feb. 6th (1883.)

Ardeidæ.--Only one record given at Portpatrick, Nov. 6th, N.W. gale, flying N.; but there can be no doubt of the greater frequency of their visits all through the season.

Anatidæ.--Wild Geese at Butt of Lewis, April 24th, when forty seen flying S.W., and on 29th fourteen seen flying S.E.; wind on both days fresh S. and rain. In August, at Monach, two flying N.W., strong N. wind; on 30th and on 27th, two flying S., at Rhinns of Islay, light E. In October, various flocks of sixteen, eighteen, twenty-four, &c., with general E. winds, coming and going in different directions at Monach, mostly flying N.W., and at Kyleakin, but flying S.W. on Oct. 12th. Also in November, between 3rd and 6th, at Rhinns of Islay and Loch Ryan, small parties flying S., with different winds A few records in December also, at Monach. Records of Eider Ducks on Sept. 22nd and 27th, at Dhuheartach, males and females in equal proportions; eighteen and twenty-four Eiders at Dhuheartach on Dec. 3rd and 10th, males and females. A few "Pintail Ducks" (?) at Monach on Nov. 13th, and one female shot. Swan: four at Corsewall, flying N.E., on Sept 27th, fresh S.E. _Land Notes._--Black Scoters abundantly. Velvet Scoters sparingly, but Scaup Ducks rarely seen on Solway Firth during June and July. Common Scoter abundant in August; several Velvet Scoters seen. Sept. 23rd, about fifty Wild Geese, finally flew away over sea to S.S.E.; Oct. 1st, five Geese flew over Douglas Hall; 2nd, more seen; twenty-four Geese seen on Oct, 14th (J. J. Armistead).

Rallidæ.--Corncrake at Rhinns of Islay, first seen on May 19th; at Dhuheartach one seen on the rock on May 8th (never seen before here by Mr. Ewing); and at Kyleakin one heard on May 31st. Directions of wind not given.

Charadriadæ.--At Rhuvaal, three to four dozen young and old Golden Plovers on Oct. 6th, and a few seen at Monach on Nov. 13th, and a good many scattered over the islands at Monach on Dec. 14th. Lapwings are also mentioned once or twice.

Scolopacidæ, Woodcock.--The rush barely indicated at Monach (odd bird) Oct. 11th; Lismore (two killed), Oct. 8th; and one bird at Sound of Mull, Nov. 5th. Snipe also very slight movement, principally at Rhinns of Islay. Of Curlew, many records from Aug. 12th to Dec. 16th. Rush appears, if any took place, to have been in September. Whimbrels are reported "very scarce," only two records on July 21st, and on Aug. 15th, at Skerryvore. There are also a few spring records of Curlews, from February to June. _Land Notes._--Aug. 8th, saw two Greenshanks on Solway (J. J. Armistead, Esq.) It appears possible that this bird breeds not far from the Solway, from other information I have gained.--J. A. H. B. Four Turnstones seen Aug. 31st, Solway (_auct. cit._); also two hundred Bar-tailed Godwits and thirty or forty Golden Plovers. No Knots yet.

Laridæ.--Terns arrived at Rhinns of Islay on May 16th; at Dhuheartach on May 12th; on Monach Islands, May 15th. They were last seen at Skervuile on Sept. 6th. They leave Butt of Lewis about Aug. 12th. They passed Lismore at night, striking lantern, on Aug. 13th, and on 14th more, accompanied by Larks. Of Gulls, "Boatswain Birds" were seen on June 21st, at MacArthur's Head, and there are records of them at Skervuile, along with Kittiwakes and Black-headed Gulls, from May 1st to 9th. Two "Dirty Allans" amongst a large flock of Gulls, at Butt of Lewis on July 10th; Iceland Gull, flying south, on Oct. 11th at Kyleakin; and great numbers of Kittiwakes at Skervuile, on Oct. 3nd and 22nd. _Land Notes._--Common Terns at nesting haunts in Kirkcudbrightshire, but no eggs laid by May 17th (_auct._ J. J. Armistead, Esq.) By Aug. 12th Terns had left their nesting-ground (_auct. cit._)

Colymbidæ.--Great Northern Diver seen at Kyleakin, near the lighthouse, on May 10th, light E. wind; again on June 19th, light W. wind. In autumn, at Monach, four seen, light S.E. wind, rain, and fog; two flying S. at Corsewall on Nov. 21st, and two, resting, on 22nd; two flying "towards N. Uist" (_i.e._ N.E.), at Monach, on Dec. 15th, and one flying east at Corsewall on Dec. 16th.

General Remarks.

A vast migration took place this year upon our E. coast, the heaviest waves breaking upon the entrance to the Firth of Forth, at the Isle of May station, and again at Pentland Skerries. Bell Rock came in also for a share, though apparently, from the schedules, a much smaller one than at the Isle of May. The easterly winds prevailed all along our E. coast, generally strong to gales, and the successions of south-easterly and easterly gales in October, between the 8th and 23rd, occurring as they did, just at the usual time of the principal migration, brought vast numbers of land-birds to our shores. From Faroe in the north to the extreme south of England this is found to have been the case, but the usual blank on our Scottish coast occurs, over a large extent of shore-line, from Dunnet Head, in Caithness, all the way to Bell Rock. From all this great stretch of coast, embracing no less than ten lighthouse stations, I have only two schedules returned. These two schedules respectively are from Cromarty, a closely landlocked station, and the other from Chanonry, a still more completely landlocked station,--both absolutely sheltered, as it were, from the track of the great S.E. and easterly gales; I may therefore say that I have not a single statistic of direct value, between Dunnet Head and Bell Rock, as regards the general migration. My thanks are none the less due, however, to Mr. Ritson, of Cromarty, and to Mr. McGill, of Chanonry, as their notes will, without doubt, prove of value if continued, and will assist us in arriving at conclusions regarding more local movements of birds, dependent upon food and shelter, which may prove none the less interesting because of their connection with landlocked positions. The absence of returns from this great stretch of coast-line is much to be deplored, and at present I am perfectly unable to state whether it is due entirely to absence of birds at all these stations every season, which, however, I can hardly think is the case, or if it is lack of interest at some of these stations. If the latter, we can only say we regret that we have failed to arouse sufficient interest in our subject. I cannot pass over this without the one further remark, that if the lighthouse-keepers at these stations would only return the schedules, with even a _negative_ statement, _every year_, it would facilitate our work. _The absolute knowledge, that year after year no birds are seen at these stations would be as valuable to us as positive data._ By a chance visit to Buchan Ness--one of these stations--on the Aberdeenshire coast, I learned that a Manx Shearwater was once captured at the lights, and saw the specimen, and thus it was added to the Aberdeenshire fauna, besides being an extremely rare visitant to any portion of the E. coast. Had this been returned in a schedule, I would have been doubly grateful for dates and circumstances of the occurrence at the time. While I am on the subject of addressing our reporters _let me once more earnestly request them, in every case where possible, to state the directions in which migratory flocks of birds are seen flying. This would greatly facilitate our deductions from year to year; and especially would I ask attention to this at all the more northerly stations, and all the west coast stations_.

Perhaps not the least remarkable migration was that of _Regulus cristatus_ (the Golden-crested Wren), extending in one broad wave from Faroe southward along the whole coast, coming with S. to S.E. to E. winds, reaching the Scottish stations by Aug. 27th, and continuing to November 12th, but apparently not reaching Faroe till Oct. 21st, when a great rush took place. It is worthy of remark also that they were unusually abundant at Isle of May in spring, a rush taking place in March, and of females on March 10th. The stream in autumn, on the Scotch coasts, lasted from 8th to 23rd, but did not begin in Faroe till 20th or 21st. A vast general rush of many other species reached our coasts also between Oct. 8th and 23rd. The great waves of _Turdidæ_ scarcely seem to have reached Faroe, as we have only a few records of them thence in December, and the same remark may be held to apply to many other species mentioned.

It is also important to note, that while so abundant at the outlying station of Isle of May and Bell Rock on the E. coast, there should have been an almost complete absence of any of these species at the next station, a little higher up the Firth of Forth, _viz._, at Inch Keith; and to record that it appears to be always with westerly winds that birds occur there. While there were hundreds of records at Isle of May, there were none with the same winds at Inch Keith, and only about ten records in all. Its somewhat landlocked position accounts for this, and its being sheltered from the S.E. winds places it on a similar footing with Chanonry and Cromarty, in the Moray Firth. Weather.--Upon our E. coasts, easterly and south-easterly winds prevailed throughout the greater part of the migratory seasons, both in spring and autumn, and reached forces of from fresh to gales. On the W. coast the wind was for the most part westerly and north westerly, rarely S. during spring, at the greater part of the stations, and was easterly and south-easterly in autumn, seldom reaching fresh or strong, or gales, as on the E. coast, usually light, or from light E. or S.E. to variable. The above facts will be considered, whilst we state next the distribution of the migratory waves on the W. coast, in relation to those on the E. coast. As in 1881, records on the W. coast begin to bulk more largely towards the southern stations. All north of Rhinns of Islay and MacArthur's Head the records of land-birds are very scanty, and the lighthouse keepers remark upon the scarcity. At usually (normally) crowded stations, such as Skervuile, they are reported as yielding "fewer birds than for many years back." Even at Rhinns of Islay the records are not large, but they begin to show an increase at this point. Unfortunately I have no autumn returns between Rhinns of Islay and Corsewall, which latter is south of the Firth of Clyde.

Now, if anything additional to the general bulk of the records is required to show the line of migration of 1882, it is the significant record of the Golden-crested Wren at Rhinns of Islay on Oct. 10th, and at Corsewall and stations to the south, but nowhere to the north of the former station. Now, it seems that the strong easterly to S.E. gales on our E. coast, which brought over such streams (rather than rushes) of birds,--such countless thousands,--did not carry them forward across the breadth of Scotland to any appreciable extent, but that the birds, tired and storm-tossed, rapidly sought rest and shelter on arrival; and that we have only on the W. coast indications that such a great stream broke upon the E. coast. These indications, however, are strong enough to enable us to mark out, with some degree of certainty, the lines and turning-points of the stream.

If we do this, by comparing the records of the various schedules, we find that, south of the Firth of Clyde, the records bulk most largely; and we also find that the dates agree with those of the E. coast.

MacArthur's Head and Rhinns of Islay appear to me, from the bulking of records, similarity of dates, continuance of light E. winds, and species occurring, to represent the turning-point of the autumn migration from E. to W. Rhinns of Islay is a salient angle, catching glimpses of passing birds from N.W. to S.E. Otherwise, if the strong gales did not cause all birds to drop for shelter on Scotland, it must have carried many far out over the Atlantic, as in 1880. Isle of May sends in 19 schedules, and Pentland Skerries 8. Bell Rock sends 2--thickly filled--and North Ronaldshay 3, but bulking less than Bell Rock. What has become of the many birds passing through the Pentland Firth? We find little indication of them at the nine northerly W. coast stations. Have many overshot the land and passed out over the Atlantic?

Another point worth noting, is the occurrence of many birds in spring at the same stations frequented by the species in autumn. Thus, at Mull of Galloway on March 8th and 9th, with westerly winds. Goldcrests were abundant, and at the same station on Oct. 15th and 16th, an autumn-rush took place, with easterly and N.E. wind and haze. The same double records occur at Bell Rock and Isle of May as regards many species, and especially _Turdidæ_ and _Regulus cristatus_. This "returning" upon old lines has already been remarked upon by my colleague, Mr. J. Cordeaux, in our Third Report (p. 38). Since these last sentences were written, I have received the first of the 1883 schedules from the Isle of May, and may here state what the effects of the succession of N.E. gales in March have been on the spring migration, leaving however the details of Mr. Agnew's schedules to be worked into our next--1883--Report. I give this in Mr. Agnew's own words, as I entirely coincide with the opinions expressed. Mr. Agnew writes on the back of the schedule as follows:--"With reference to your note on the schedules sent, as to the effect of the N.E. gale of March 6th, 7th, and 8th, 1883, you will see from the entries inside that the effect of that gale was almost to stop migration at the Isle of May. Migration that had set in pretty briskly on the 2nd almost ceased on the 5th, and from that date we had only a few stragglers of the strongest wings, up to the 19th. I believe the effect of that gale was to drive the birds that should have come this way, away to the southward. Had the gale been from the S.E. it would have been different here."

In fact, a N.E. wind reaching such strengths as those of March 1883 did, acts very much in the same way upon spring migrants, pressing them more to the southward, as north-westerly strong winds and gales act upon the autumn migrants, whose normal course is from E. to W., or S. of E. to N. of W. It will be interesting to trace this further from the schedules returned from other stations, when they come in for 1883. Another point to note in spring migration of 1883, will be the greater westering of the return migrants, if we may use the expression, partly consequent upon the greater westering of the autumn migrants, caused by the long-continued and strong south-easterly winds of the preceding autumn, and partly upon the north-easterly winds of March pressing them down and deflecting their course to more inland and sheltered lines.

In this connection I would speak here of the great assembly of the Pied Wagtails on the narrow stone horizontal moulding above the upper windows of the General Post Office, Edinburgh, where, upon March 17th, 1883, A. B. H., who recorded the facts in the 'Scotsman' of that date, counted more than sixty; and he adds, in a subsequent letter to me, "there was at least one in every niche of the carved capitols of the columns. I think I am quite within the mark when I say there were 150 birds altogether." This flock roosted there on March 17th and 18th, but disappeared on the 19th, owing, Mr. H. thinks, to a rise of temperature and the wind going round from N.E. to S.E. Mr. H. was informed that numbers, probably the same birds, were seen feeding at Duddingstone Loch on the 18th. Now, several years ago, a similar assemblage was noted at the same locality, by a well-known Edinburgh ornithologist, but it occurred, not in spring but in autumn, and a general movement was at that time also noted by Mr. H., and recorded in the Proc. Ryl. Phyl. Soc. of Edinburgh, on Jan. 15th, 1879, from which last noted records of autumnal migration it would appear that he saw about seventy Pied Wagtails on the roof a house in Edinburgh, in the middle of September, 1878, and Mr. Scot Skirving, of Edinburgh, on a previous occasion, saw some 300 at the General Post Office, but the exact date of this latter record has unfortunately been lost or mislaid, as we are unable, of course, to find out definitely the meteorological phenomena accompanying the record.

Further, my friend Mr. Eagle Clarke, notes the arrival of the same species in the neighbourhood of the Ure River, near Masham, Yorkshire, as early as Feb. 5th, 1883. Though resident in the lowlands about Leeds, it is migratory to and from the higher lands. Mr. Eagle Clarke has often seen as many as 200 in a flock, on a large lawn near Leeds.

Mr. Agnew informs me, that with a S. wind there is little migration past the Isle of May, and that S.E. is the best wind in spring to permit of observations being made. Five Wagtails were seen at Isle of May on the 29th and 30th, however, during a gale from the S.

The Spring Migration of 1883 seems to me to indicate the direct effects of the N.E. gale, causing these Wagtails to keep inland by a more sheltered route, which Wagtails in ordinary weather would probably have passed up the coast-line and crossed the entrance of the Firth of Forth, showing themselves at Isle of May and Bell Rock stations. Mr. Robert Gray has, I believe, frequently observed the spring arrivals of this species on the west coast--in Ayrshire; and it will be interesting to see if we can trace the movement up the west coast, _on the returning lines_, when schedules are returned for 1883, from Mull of Galloway and other west coast stations.

I have dwelt upon these facts because I believe that our appreciation of the general lines and of the laws regulating the great annual migrations can be very greatly assisted by the study of individual species on their migration, and good opportunities are in this report afforded us of doing so by the records of several species. One more remark:--It seems also worthy of note that very possibly these Wagtails were finding their way _across_ Scotland from the Solway or the Clyde, and, resting on the General Post Office buildings, repaired _south_ for daily food--as I have noticed birds do during the spring migration on the Petchora, at Ust Zylma, and Habarika, in N. E. Russia; and on the advent of a more favourable temperature and change of wind, pursued their course northward. If these are correctly recorded as Pied Wagtails,--as there is no reason to suppose is not so,--then their destination would be the North of Scotland; but if they were the White Wagtail or continental form, then, as far as general records of migration guide us, they would probably _shoot off_ again at Isle of May or Bell Rock--towards the Continent. Mr. Agnew's note of "very white Wagtails" at Isle of May should be borne in mind in this connection (_antea_, p. 12).

That a line of migration does occur across Scotland both in spring and autumn between Forth and Clyde, I think, needs little demonstration beyond what we have already stated in previous reports; both from data and by referring to General Remarks this seems perfectly obvious. The evidences of the sea having at one time advanced inland a long distance past the very spot in which I now live can scarcely be gainsaid; and Forth and Clyde--by two separate branches--must at one time have approached one another very much more closely than they now do, and a comparatively narrow isthmus have been formed by at least one of these two branches. As already remarked, it is curious to find rare American and rare eastern species occurring so frequently at localities on that line; witness as the latest record of importance that of the Pectoral Sandpiper, _Tringa maculata_, Vieillot, at Loch Lomond, after continuous and scarcely failing easterly winds, on Nov. 24th, 1882.

Sir Geo. Leith Buchanan informs me that he believes that the wind was north-west at the time he shot the Pectoral Sandpiper, but this was local, as prevailing winds were easterly at that time. Sir George also tells me of the other birds of rare occurrence which he has met with at the same locality, but no notes at the time were taken of wind. These are as follows:--

"Buonapartian Gull, in April 1851 or 1852. Black-tailed Godwit, April, about same date. Shoveller found breeding, and two since shot by keeper. Two Wood Sandpipers, one in August and the other on Oct. 4th. One Little Stint in October, seen in company with two others. The Spotted Crake must breed, as every autumn I meet with them when Snipe-shooting. The Shrike I obtained once in December, 1866, and I saw another two or three winters since." I think if we thus endeavour to group together rare occurrences, and collect lists from various localities, we cannot fail to arrive at some conclusions regarding the highways of migration. We are thus working from data up to facts, without an undue amount of theorising.