KKPOKT OX Till': MIGKATIOX OF I'.IKDS. 385 



light-ships. Yeiiriy notices ii;i\e been sent ill iVoiii 1(H» or l.">0 of these 

 stations since the year 1S71>, and a coininittee named l»y t lie association 

 (J. Coideaux. J. A. Ilai'\ie-l>ro\vii. A. Newton. K.]\I. r>airiii,i»ton. A.(i. 

 More, W. Eagle Chirke, andotliers) haslookedalter the itiiblieation of in- 

 dividual observations in nine "■ Reports on the Migiati<»ii " ( \S70-1S87), 

 as Avell as in a brief re])ort which lias been made annually to the asso- 

 ciation. 



Alread.N' in 1881.' these notices pro\ed tne wonderful constancy with 

 Avhich the birds of passage' year after year follow the sanu^ lin<'s or 

 great routes when they approach or abandon tiie Britisii coasts, and 

 this constancy points to a detinite law go\erning the wiiole plienome- 

 non. Two se])arate migrations may ])e distinguished: tiie great periodi- 

 cal Ava\es which sweep from the breeding places in the far northeast 

 and return; and fiirtlu'r. (piile iiidei>eiideiit of these, a constant stream 

 of immigrants, which moves from the continent toward the south- 

 eastern and eastern coasts of Kngland, across the southern ])art of the 

 Korth Sea in the direction of «'ast to Avest or from southeast to iiortli- 

 west. On the other hand, the west coasts, and especially Irehind, are 

 comparatively seldom visited by these birds of ]>assage. 



Nevertheless, the str<'am (»f migration (188(>) does not strike e(|ually 

 all points on tlie east coast of Kngland, l)ut ai>i>ears constaiitl\' to 

 follow fixed lines, l^'or exami)Ie, the Fame islands on the coast of 

 Northumberland, as also the mouth of the ri\er Tee, apjx'ar to be i>rin 

 cipal stations t'ov the passage over the North Sea: likewise certain 

 parts of the coasts further to the south. To the north of Xcu'folk, 

 tlie migratory birds apjM-ar to ])enetrate through the \\'ash into the 

 interior of England tow ard Severn, Bristol Channel, and still further 

 westward. 



it is fuitiiei- pointed out tiuit the vertical lieight at which th<'- flights 

 take place must be accurately noted*, and that the liglit ships api»ear 

 to yield a l)etter s<;ries of obsei'\ations than the light-houses. It was 

 also ascertained that only certain si)eci«'s were attracted by the light, 

 and th()se in an unecpuU manner. The special direction and force of 

 the wind (1887; ap[)ears to exert onl>' a small inlluem-e on the great 

 autumn ruslies; but the direction of the wind which prevails during 

 the passage in general, seems to i)lay a more important part. — the 

 direction of tliejournex' and tiie angle of the route to the coast lieing 

 to a great extent dejx'ndent upon it. 



.V large part of tlu' birds of [lassage are in autumn drixen tar out 

 on the Atlantic Ocean. Observations on the subject are noted on the 

 most fre([Ueiited lines of communication, and also made (»\er to the 

 e(»mmit1ee. 



The moK' the pul>lisiied matciial accumulated, the more desirai)le it 

 seemed to utilize the whole mass in forming conclusions. This was 

 already referred to in the rejiort for Ihe year 1887. It was further pro- 



* Compare also on this snlijcct Alliarda, Oniix, i, ]ip. r>92-5}M, 

 jr. 31 is. II 4 1*5 



