THE STARLING ROOST ON CRAMOND ISLAND 7 



overhead quite out of sight. At the end of the 

 month the morning flight was timed at 7.10, and the 

 evening at 5.15. 



March. On the 2nd of this month the morning flight was 

 at 7.15. On the 7th the Starlings came over at 6.40, 

 and returned in the evening at 5.45. Professor J. Arthur 

 Thomson of Aberdeen University, who was at Cramond 

 on the loth inst, saw a flock manoeuvring at Cramond 

 Island and estimated their numbers at not less than 

 10,000. On the 25th inst. I have noted in my diary 

 " the Starlings seem to be gradually getting less in 

 numbers." 



April. On the I3th of this month I have noted that the 

 Starlings still cross to Cramond Island in considerable 

 numbers, but I also noticed that in different parts of 

 Dalmeny woods, especially in rhododendron bushes, 

 small flocks of Starlings are to be found roosting. 



Alay. On the ist of this month the Starlings are timed as 

 crossing at 7.40 r.M. Small flocks of Starlings were 

 seen passing in the evenings from 7.15 onwards. On 

 the 26th they were seen in larger numbers, probably 

 owing to a strong east wind and rain causing them to 

 fly low. I noticed that by the 3 I st most of the young 

 Starlings reared in Dalmeny woods had " flown." 



June. Broods of young Starlings were noticed feeding on 

 the grass lawn in front of Dalmeny House on the 2nd 

 inst. On the I2th inst. I have noted that the Starlings 

 are now crossing regularly from 7 P.M. On the i6th 

 a very decided increase in the number of Starlings 

 crossing to Cramond Island was noticeable. The first 

 flock was seen at 6.30, and for an hour afterwards 

 flocks of a considerable size continued to go over. On 

 the i 7th they were seen coming from the island at 4.5 

 A.M. "just as in winter." Up to the end of the month 

 they crossed from 7 A.M. in flocks of varying size. 



From the beginning of July and on to the end of 

 November the daily observations of the Starlings were prac- 

 tically identical with those of the corresponding period of 

 1900. 



