THE MIGRATIONS OF THE STARLING 257 



volume in the last three weeks of October, and usually 

 cease with the early days of November ; but in some 

 seasons there are arrivals until the middle of the month.^ 



As an illustration of the magnitude of these inpourings, 

 it may be stated that they have been recorded for as 

 many as twenty-one days during October, and that the 

 chief "rushes" often cover several successive days, and 

 affect the eastern coastline from the H umber southwards. 

 The passage is chiefly performed during the daytime, 

 and not unfrequently lasts from early morning until dusk, 

 sometimes under most trying weather conditions;"" but 

 there are records which doubtless refer to night passages. 



As in other immigrations along this route, the direc- 

 tion of flight varies, being from direct east to west at 

 its centre about the mouth of the Thames, to the south- 

 west off the coast of Kent, to the north-west on the 

 Norfolk coast, and to the north-north-west at the mouth 

 of the Humber. 



The species which have been observed migrating 

 from east to west on the same dates as the Starling are 

 Rooks, Jackdaws, Skylarks, Tree- Sparrows, Chaffinches, 

 Meadow- Pipits, and Lapwings. 



Many of these immigrant Starlings from Central 

 Europe winter in various parts of England :^ many, too, 

 pass along our southern shores ; some to cross the 

 English Channel at various points on their way to 

 retreats in South-Western Europe, while others proceed 

 to Ireland, where they arrive on the coast of Wexford 



^ Latest at the Gorton lightship on 17th November 1880. 



2 At the Leman and Ower lightship, on 24th October 1884, a flight 

 estimated at five thousand passed landwards at 5 p.m., and of these fifty 

 struck the lantern and were killed. (See also Vol. II., p. 11.) 



^ There can be little doubt that some of these Central European birds 

 winter in latitudes north of their suviiner homes. 



I. R 



