22 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



in the direction of the sound, when I distinctly saw a 

 considerable flock passing in a southerly direction. After 

 following their flight till lost sight of, I searched the northern 

 sky for some time, and was rewarded for my trouble by 

 seeing another flock coming direct from Barrahead. When 

 passing the rock they slightly altered their course, and 

 disappeared, going due South. Again on loth Nov. 1 

 heard the sound of Redwings, and got sight of one flock 

 travelling in exactly the same direction. This was all I 

 was able to see, but nearly every day in November when 

 the weather was moderate I could hear them passing. On 

 rare occasions a straggler rested on the rock during day- 

 light. This autumn I have seen more migrants than in 

 any former season. On i/th July a flock of twenty-five 

 Turnstones were seen flying around the rock without resting, 

 and after having a good look round departed in the direction 

 of the coast of Ireland. On 2oth Aug. Wheatears first 

 made their appearance, and from then onwards we had a 

 few visitors every day till the end of September. White 

 Wagtails were also fairly numerous. But the first great 

 rush of the season took place on the night of 2Oth to 2ist 

 Sept. For some days previous the weather was very 

 mild and quiet, a little hazy, wind S.E., barometer high 

 30.20 to 30.30, temperature 58 to 60. About 8 P.M. on the 

 2Oth a few Meadow Pipits and Wheatears were noticed on 

 the lantern, and at 10 P.M. the Meadow Pipits were flying 

 round in thousands. Standing on the balcony watching 

 them, one could almost imagine there was a heavy fall of 

 snow, the flakes abnormally big. Thousands were flitting 

 about ; hundreds were striking against the dome and 

 windows ; hundreds were sitting dazed and stupid on the 

 trimming-paths ; and scores falling to the rock below, some 

 instantaneously killed, others seriously injured, falling help- 

 lessly into the sea. This continued till dawn, when all that 

 were still uninjured disappeared. The weather all night 

 was delightful ; wind S.E., light breeze, haze dense enough 

 to make Dhuheartach Light 18 miles distant very in- 

 distinct (in clear weather it shows very clearly). Along 

 with the Pipits were a number of Wheatears, one Starling, 

 one Ring Ouzel, two Jack Snipe, a few White Wagtails, one 



