72 STUDIES IN BIRD-MIGRATION 



much migration is observed at both seasons at the Scilly 

 Isles, the Land's End, the Lizard, the Eddystone,^ Start 

 Point, St Catherine's Point (Isle of Wight ^), the Nab 

 light-vessel (east of the Isle of Wight), and Beachy 

 Head ; and great numbers avail themselves of the 

 shortest passage across the Straits of Dover. These 

 routes have their sources,^ in spring, at the great stream 

 which rushes along the coast-line of Western Europe, 

 and along the northern coast of France. 



The migrants which reach the extreme western 

 section of the south coast and the Scilly Isles and 

 south-west coast of Ireland, do so by quitting the 

 Continental stream flowing northwards along the west 

 coast of France, in the neighbourhood of Ushant. 

 Those which arrive on other sections of our southern 

 coast are derived from the stream which flows east- 

 wards and traverses the French shores of the Channel, 

 giving off branches at various points which pass north- 

 wards to the English coast. Other migrants may find 

 their way to England from the opposite shores of the 

 Channel, after an overland flight from various parts of 

 France, in which country their winter has been passed. 



Ushant, from its situation, is one of the most 

 important stations for observing bird-migration in 

 Western Europe, and one of these "Studies" is de- 

 voted to my experiences during a singularly unfortunate 

 visit paid to the island in the autumn of 1898. 



1 For particulars of the species observed at this important station, see 

 Chapter XVII. 



'^ Captain Hadfield {Zoologist, 1884, p. 30) says that the main line 

 of flight is witnessed at P'resh water (east of "The Needles"), where more 

 rare species have been obtained than in any other part of the island. 



•' In connection with this and other routes to be mentioned, consult map 

 which forms Plate II. 



