246 STUDIES IN BIRD-MIGRATION 



wards along the coasts and overland. Should such 

 conditions extend to the south of England, much 

 emigration for the shores of France ^ follows, great 

 numbers of Lapwings crossing the Channel both by 

 day and night. Occasionally during these periods of 

 exceptional severity many of these birds, along with 

 other species affected ("Thrushes," Larks, Starlings, 

 etc.), are observed moving westwards during the daytime 

 along the south coast of England and its vicinity en 

 route for Devon, Cornwall, and the Scilly Isles,^ and 

 not a few then cross St George's Channel to Ireland,^ 

 where milder conditions usually prevail. In the Sister 

 Isle the counties of Cork and Kerry are largely resorted 

 to by the Irish birds when in distress. There appear to 

 be no winter movements westward to the Hebrides, as 

 there are in the case of several other species affected by 

 severe weather on the mainland. 



The time when the winter emigrations from Britain 

 may be enforced varies greatly. Thus, during the 

 season 1 901 -1902, the weather in the south of England 

 remained mild until February, when it became excep- 



^ On the 6th of December 1902, several hundreds arrived at the Eddy- 

 stone at 7.15 P.M. and were flying in the rays from the lantern until 5.45 a.m. 

 On the following night they appeared again at 7.30 in still larger numbers, 

 and were striking the copper dome of the lantern so continuously that "it 

 was more like a maxim gun at work, and they were falling overboard by the 

 score. The thermometer stood at freezing-point, a very rare occurrence 

 here." 



2 On 13th February igoo, a great flock passed over these islands coming 

 from the north-west. The next day the islands were alive with an extraordin- 

 ary assortment of Lapwings, Golden Plovers, Starlings, Song-Thrushes, 

 Mistle-Thrushes, Redwings, Fieldfares, and Blackbirds. They passed on, 

 but left many dead. 



^ Occasionally during severe winters numbers of Lapwings have been 

 observed passing westwards at stations off and on the east coast of Ireland, 

 which points to a passage of emigrants from north Wales. 



