116 STUDIES IN BIRD-MIGRATION 



lighthouse, on the night of iith April and the early- 

 morning of the 1 2th, 1902, a vast movement was 

 witnessed, the weather at the time being suitable for 

 bringing the birds under notice of the observers — namely, 

 a moderate breeze accompanied by thick rain, which pre- 

 vailed the whole of the night. The migration first became 

 apparent at 8.45 p.m., with the arrival of Wheatears, 

 which passed continuously to the north-west in great 

 numbers until 11 p.m. These were closely followed by 

 numerous Song-Thrushes ; and at midnight hundreds of 

 Ring-Ouzels and Redwings came upon the scene, accom- 

 panied by Starlings, Swallows, and "a perfect cloud of 

 small birds," composed of Redstarts, Nightingales, Black- 

 caps, Tree-Pipits, and many other species, examples of 

 which were either not killed at the lantern, or, being 

 injured, were lost in the sea below. Great numbers of 

 Wheatears again appeared at 1.30 a.m., and continued, 

 with the other species, to pass northwards until 5 a.m. 

 From midnight until 4 a.m. "the air seemed to be thick 

 with birds, but they melted away, as it were, on the 

 appearance of dawn." Examples of all the species named 

 were submitted to me for identification. At the Owers 

 liofht-vessel, stationed off the east side of the Isle of 

 Wight, many Cuckoos, Redwings, and a great number of 

 "warblers," occurred at the same time, and many were 

 killed by striking against the lantern. 



These records from the Eddystone and the Owers 

 are of further interest, since they clearly indicate that in 

 addition to the summer guests making for our islands, 

 such as the Nightingale, Tree-Pipit, Cuckoo, etc., etc., 

 there were also simultaneously seeking our shores a 

 number of birds on passage to countries beyond our 

 area — namely. Redwings, Song-Thrushes, and Starlings. 



