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The Scottish Naturalist 



Nos. 105 AND io6.] 1920 [Sept.-Oct. 



SPRING MIGRATION AT LITTLE ROSS IN 1920. 



By William Begg. 



Winter has passed, and the severest I have experienced in 

 all my lighthouse service as far as wind and rain storms, 

 though there was very little frost and snow, which has caused 

 a great mildness, bringing in a very early spring. In the open 

 on the 14th March, the primrose could be gathered in bunches, 

 wild daffodils were bursting out here and there, the daisy 

 and violet, all appearing in their simple beauty. Now along 

 with these early wild flowers come other spring scenes, 

 namely, the appearance of our summer birds. After putting 

 in the winter in more genial and cheerful homes than they 

 could have found here, they have left this southern home 

 and seek again their northern summer quarters. 



Passing by hedgerow, gorse-bank, wood, and field, we 

 find bird-life getting very animated, where a short time ago 

 appeared only desolation. 



On St Valentine's Day I heard the first sweet notes of 

 the Song-thrush, which in itself makes one forget the dreary 

 past months. On our island of Little Ross there is a gun- 

 socket for firing signals for the lifeboat, and on top of this 

 for the last six years a Thrush sits from the middle of 

 February up till the end of March every morning and 

 evening piping his tuneful lays. 



Other advance-guards have made an early appearance ; 

 I OS AND 106 Q 



