262 THE BIRDS OF YORKSHIRE. 



week of May, though occasional stragglers have been observed 

 some days earlier ; on 5th April 1887, several arrived at 

 Spurn and remained all night on the Lighthouse (Ninth 

 Migration Report), nor does cold always retard their arrival, 

 for on 7th May 1902, although a bitter east wind was blowing, 

 with snow showers, I saw three Swifts at Redcar hawking 

 for several hours over the breakers about twenty yards from 

 the shore. About the middle or third week of August they 

 leave for their winter quarters, some remaining until September, 

 and late birds have been recorded in October or even in 

 November ; the latest date of which I have notice is i6th 

 November 1901, when two were observed at Harrogate. 

 An individual found in a dormant state in an old chimney 

 at Bolton Hall, in mid-winter, was probably a weakly bird 

 unable to migrate at the proper season. 



It is generally, but somewhat locally, distributed, and 

 decreasing in some localities, particularly in the neighbourhood 

 of Beverley. 



The information concerning the Swift supplied to the 

 British Association Migration Committee indicates that, at 

 the Light stations on the coast, it is noticed both in spring 

 and autumn, being sometimes observed to flock round the 

 lanterns and remain on the galleries and window-sills all 

 night. Towards the end of June a north to south movement 

 takes place along the coast line, reaching its height in the first 

 half of July, and in most seasons gradually ceasing about the 

 first week in August. At the Teesmouth the line of migration 

 is most pronounced ; the birds, coming from the direction 

 of West Hartlepool, pass over, or close by, Seaton Carew, 

 cross the river near the Snook and, striking the Yorkshire 

 shore near Tod Point, take the direction of Wilton and Eston, 

 missing Redcar entirely. Curiously enough this line of flight 

 is also chosen by homing pigeons travelling south along the 

 coast. A south, south-west, or south-east wind is invariably 

 used by the migrating Swifts, and, after a continuance of 

 adverse weather conditions at the period named, great " rushes" 

 occur on the first favourable day. With steady winds in 

 the right quarter the birds travel more leisurely, in small 



