152 STUDIES IN BIRD-MIGRATION 



the Flannan Islands, the former of which occupies 

 a singularly favourable geographical position for their 

 observation. 



The steady flow of migrants southwards, towards 

 and along our shores, is accelerated during the latter 

 half of the month, when a series of "rushes," the result 

 of weather influences in the north, usually take place. 



Arrivals from the East. — The autumn immigrations 

 hitherto considered are those of birds which come to us 

 from Northern Europe, Iceland, and Greenland ; and 

 from North-western Siberia in the case of the Curlew 

 Sandpiper, Yellow-browed Warbler, and others. There 

 now remain for consideration those migrants (birds of 

 passage and winter visitants) which reach us by an east- 

 to-west flight across the southern waters of the North 

 Sea, and arrive on the south-eastern coast of England 

 between the Wash and the Channel.^ 



These movements commence about the middle of 

 September, when Skylarks, Starlings, Tree- Sparrows, 

 Chaffinches, etc., are observed at the light-vessels off the 

 coast streaming day after day towards the English 

 shores, chiefly during the daytime. Later, Grey Crows, 

 Rooks, Jackdaws, and Lapwings figure largely among 

 the throng moving westwards. 



This important and singularly interesting stream of 

 migration received my personal attention in September 

 and October 1903, when I spent a month on board the 

 Kentish Knock lightship, for its special investigation. 

 The results of these observations will be given in 

 Chapter XVIII., Vol. 11., which renders it unnecessary 

 to treat of them further in this place. 



1 For the geographical aspects of this migration route, sec p. 83, and 

 map (Plate II.). 



