i70 the scottish naturalist 



Migration, 

 summary of movements. 



January. 



On the whole the pressure in January approximated very 

 closely to the normal, and the movements were of a very 

 usual character. The principal feature of the January 

 migrations were the movements of Rooks, Oystercatchers, 

 Lapwings, Ringed Plover, Curlew, and Starlings, observed at 

 our lantern and island stations. These were more constant 

 than is usually the case so early in the year, and may in 

 some measure be attributable to the spell of frost which 

 prevailed from the nth to the 23rd, and drove the birds to 

 the coasts and islands. In addition to this there were 

 movements of Turdinae, Mealy Redpolls, and Skylarks. 

 Large returns of seafowl, to investigate the cliffs on which 

 they breed, are also noted. 



February. 



The weather in February was " wet, mild, and rough," 

 the wind being almost consistently from some westerly 

 quarter, chiefly south-westerly, and frequently strong. The 

 course of migration seems to have been almost entirely 

 normal ; in the first three weeks, returns of Thrushes, 

 Curlew, Lapwings, and Golden Plover to their inland 

 breeding places are noted. Constant movements of Star- 

 lings, Skylarks, and Turdinse, also took place ; these were 

 evidently immigrants, the records coming almost entirely 

 from our southern stations. Snow-buntings, Rooks, and 

 Lapwings were moving northwards, records of passage 

 coming from Orkney and Shetland. In the last week the 

 movements strengthened, and in addition to the species 

 already mentioned. Meadow-pipits and Pied Wagtails were 

 returning to their nesting haunts, and Stonechats were on 

 the move. 



