THE MIGRATIONS OF THE STARLING 261 



on H.M.S. Alert between capes Farewell and Clear, 

 when 517 miles from the latter.^ At Eagle Island, off 

 Mayo, on 31st October and ist November 1886, several 

 thousands are said to have passed westwards over the 

 Atlantic. 



Winter Movements. — The winter movements of the 

 Starling are attributable to the same cause, and are per- 

 formed under the same conditions as those undertaken 

 by the Song-Thrush, Skylark, and Lapwing. These have 

 been fully treated in the summaries on these species, 

 and the subject generally in the chapter (VII.) on Winter 

 Movements. It is therefore only necessary to touch 

 somewhat briefly on these forced migrations of this bird. 



Although belonging to a species which is much 

 affected by severe weather, and especially snow, inasmuch 

 as its ordinary food then becomes difficult and some- 

 times impossible to procure, yet many of our resident 

 Starlings remain in their accustomed haunts throughout 

 periods of such extreme severity that great numbers 

 perish from hunger. Others, along with species similarly 

 affected, move to the coast, especially the west and 

 south-west coasts of England and Ireland. Ireland is 

 also sought by considerable numbers of emigrants, 

 which arrive from the north-east and east on the 

 occasion of each great outburst of cold in Great Britain. 

 But even on the south-west coast of Ireland, where the 

 climatic conditions are more favourable than elsewhere 

 within our area, great numbers perish in severe seasons, 

 such as those of 1881 (January), 1882 (December), 

 and 1895 (January to March). Many, too, cross the 

 English Channel and proceed southwards in search of 

 more genial haunts on the Continent. 



1 Feilden, Zoologist, 1877, p. 469- 

 I. R 2 



