2 so THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 



Spotted Flycatcher, the Nightjar, the Swift, and 

 the Turtle Dove. As an instance of the important 

 stream of migrants still passing north, we learn, as 

 reported from the Eddystone Lighthouse, on the 

 last night of May, 1887 (cloudy with mist and 

 drizzhng rain), that a Cuckoo was caught at the 

 lantern at 10 p.m.; that flocks of Sandpipers (some 

 individuals striking the light). Swifts, Swallows, 

 Wheatears, and Warblers continued to pass from 

 midnight till 3 a.m., or just in the gray dawn of 

 morning, great numbers of the last-mentioned birds 

 being killed against the lantern ! By the first week 

 in June Spring Migration over the British Islands 

 has practically ceased, having prevailed to a more 

 or less extent for about four months. 



Scarcely have the last spent pulses of the Great 

 Vernal Wave of Migration ceased to flow upon the 

 British Islands before the first ripples of the Autumn 

 tide begin to be apparent. By the middle of July 

 the Autumn Flight is inaugurated with the arrival 

 of , the first Arctic Waders, either seen flying south 

 along our coasts or off them at sea, or heard even 

 at some distance inland crossing at great heights 

 over the star-ht sky. As we have already had 

 occasion to remark, a few old birds invariably 

 herald the rush of young. By the end of the 

 month and early in August the arrivals are more 

 numerous; young Knots and Gray Plovers, Common 

 Sandpipers, Lapwings, Ringed Plovers, Green- 

 shanks and Curlews. Small birds such as Swifts, 

 Wheatears, Willow Wrens, W^ood Wrens, and 



