i9i2. PATTKN. — lVre?is on Migyaiion. ±27 



Whether the \^''ren is a rei^ular annual migrant ni spring 

 and auUunn is a matter which I must wait and find out for 

 myself. However, at this early stage of my investigations 

 I may mention that on October 4th last I obtained two 

 Wrens from the Tuskar rock, and after I left on October 

 7th. this species was reported by the lightkeepers on several 

 occasions during the same month. In all I have obtained 

 tweh'e specimens, and have seen large numbers on certain 

 occasions during eight weeks' residence at the Tuskar, 

 enough and more to afford us good evidence that the main 

 cross -channel route is not of necessity between Antrim and 

 the S.W of Scotland. The extraordinarily small number 

 of Wrens which Mr. Barrington received, comprising fifteen 

 in number (six of which need not be considered, as they 

 came from breeding stations), during his solicitations ioY 

 so many years and from so many lightkeepers, clearly shows 

 to what an extent the bird has been overlooked at light 

 stations, presuming that my Tuskar records represent 

 ordinary spring and autumn migrations. It is quite true 

 that the creeping Wren, with its sombre plumage, and silent 

 mouse-hke movements, easily escapes notice, indeed the 

 eye of a trained ornithologist is often required to detect 

 its presence and w^hereabouts. 



In regard to the power of flight of the Wren, Mr. 

 Barrington expresses surprise that the bird could fly from 

 Britain to the coast of Co. Cork, some 200 miles away, and 

 suggests as a corollary that the specimens taken at the 

 Fastnet may have been blown out of their course during 

 a local migration. vSuch an analogy certainly has no place 

 in the Tuskar migration indicated in this paper, for the 

 weather was quite calm, and there w^ere far too many Wrens 

 on the move. Besides they showed evidence of having come 

 a distance. Mr. Barrington speaks of the Wren as a species 

 " which might be thought one of the worst adapted for long 

 migratory journeys." I presume that he imposes limitations 

 on the Wren's flight on account of its short wings, because 

 when speaking of the bird selecting the shortest passage 

 from Ireland to Britain, he says — " a selection not un- 

 natural in the case of the shortest winged British bird." 

 But the question of shortness of wing, considered apart 



