110 THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS 



country from Balbriggan to the Old Head of Kinsale, 

 with a coast line of some 200 miles ; most of the 

 birds noticed inland were at towns on the rivers 

 Suir, Barrow, and Nore. The flight was mostly 

 north-east, and at the lights offshore, towards the 

 land. Mr Barrington gives the following explana- 

 tion. After crossing the Channel the coast of 

 Wexford was reached and the stream divided, some 

 going north along the east coast and others west- 

 ward along the south coast, but changing their 

 direction when they reached the wide mouth of 

 the Barrow. The flocks which passed Lucifer 

 Shoals, 10 miles offshore, proceeded north without 

 touching Wexford. Northerly and easterly winds 

 had prevailed for weeks prior to the 29th over 

 France and the British Islands, and birds would 

 be held up in southern Europe ; the milder coast- 

 wise temperature of western France, he thinks, 

 would cause them to take a more westerly course 

 than usual. On the morning of the 29th the wind 

 changed to the south at Valentia, Pembroke and 

 the Scilly Islands, and there was an average rise 

 of 7 in temperature at French stations. This 

 rise and the southerly wind liberated the birds, 

 but as the wind continued north-east or east in 

 England they " decided " to take a longer and more 

 exhausting course than usual, pass to Ireland and 

 then turn north-east. The change took place 



