THE MIGRATIONS OF THE SWALLOW 197 



other birds (Song-Thrushes, Ring-Ouzels, Land- and 

 Water- Rails, and a Woodcock), occurred from ii p.m. to 

 3 A.M. Two hundred Swallows struck the lantern. 



During the autumn (and also spring) migration, the 

 English Channel is probably crossed by many routes, 

 but there are certain much-used points of departure, to 

 reach which the birds shape their course. Beginning 

 in the west, we find among them the Land's End, 

 the Lizard, the Eddystone, Start Point, Portland 

 Bill, Isle of Wight (St Catherine's Point and Nab 

 light-vessel), Beachy Head, and Dungeness. On the 

 Dorset and Hampshire coasts. Swallows are recorded 

 as proceeding to the eastward in the autumn. In 

 Sussex, too, the flight is easterly, towards Beachy Head, 

 just before arriving at which many birds cross the 

 Channel.^ Others still pursue their easterly flight, and 

 finally cross the Straits of Dover. There may be other 

 routes taken, but the points of departure just named are 

 those which result from the investigations with which I 

 have been associated. There are, however, some records 

 of Swallows occasionally moving westward along the 

 south coast, perhaps a continuation of the movements 

 from the east across the southern waters of the North 

 Sea. Thus a cross-movement of departing birds then 

 occurs. The coast-line is closely followed by many of 

 the Swallows moving south, more especially by the birds 

 of passage. 



Among the birds performing similar migrations as 

 summer visitors to the British Isles and North- Western 

 Europe (due allowance being made for differences in the 



* When crossing the Channel between Newhaven and Dieppe, during 

 the daytime, in September, I have seen Swallows passing in a south- 

 easterly direction towards the French coast. 



I. N 2 



