191 2. PATTKN. — Rock- Pipits 07i Migration. 169 



if we include Mr. Power's record, lasted about a month, viz., 

 from the latter end of September to the latter end of October. 

 My eight specimens were collected between September 22nd 

 and October 2nd, 191 1. In support of the view that this 

 species is migratory, we find that Saunders^ writes : "Along 

 the east coast a migration southwards has been noticed in 

 October." In regard to Mr. Ussher's testimony it seems 

 that he has in a great measure pinned his faith to what Mr. 

 Barrington has put forward, and has adopted his views. 

 Mr. Ussher writes : " I have no evidence of the migration of 

 the Rock -Pipit further than that it becomes more common 

 in winter on the flat part of the coast. The few specimens 

 in Mr. Barrington's collection are from island rocks, where 

 the bird has probably been resident, and it is a significant 

 fact that none have been sent him from any lightship.'''^ 

 In regard to the last remarks, which, for emphasis, I have 

 italicised, it is interesting to note that in his admirable 

 book^ just published, Mr. Eagle Clarke observed this 

 species on the Kentish Knock lightship, situated 21 miles 

 from the nearest land (Margate), where, for a whole month, 

 this ornithologist took up his abode. He writes that 

 " Rock -Pipits, probably moving southwards, came on board 

 on the 23rd September and 12th October during the daytime, 

 and one was captured at the lantern at 6.45 p.m. on 8th 

 October." Had the hghtship been close to land, the 

 appearance of this species on the deck as well as at the 

 lantern might by some authorities have been thought to have 

 been of less importance, and the movement might have been 

 put down vaguely as " coasting." As the evidence stands, 

 however, I should think that most observers would agree 

 that it is more hkely than not that the birds were effecting 

 a true migration. 



In conclusion, I wish to say that I have been unable to 

 incorporate in this paper a report on the examination of the 

 gizzards of the eight Rock-Pipits which I collected on the 

 Tuskar Rock. The reason is that I am writing away from 

 home and have not the dissected material before me. On 



1- Man. Brit. Birds, 2nd Edit., 1899, P- ^43 



- Birds of Ireland, p. 41. 



•' Studies in Bird Migration, 19 12, vol. ii., p. 33. 



