THE MIGRATIONS Ol' THE ROOK 269 



roosting-places, these in a number of cases being 

 situated some miles apart. 



In Ireland, with the exception of the spring immigra- 

 tion already mentioned, the movements are, according 

 to our present knowledge, to be regarded as being only 

 of a partial or irregular nature. 



In severe winters. Rooks, in small numbers, have been 

 recorded as seekinof certain of the Outer Hebrides in 

 search of more genial quarters than those afforded by 

 the mainland. To others of these islands it is a regular 

 winter visitor, and has been known to appear at this 

 season at remote St Kilda. 



Although one of our most familiar birds — a species 

 known to all observers — yet there is a lack of informa- 

 tion regarding its movements that is not a little surpris- 

 ing — further and striking proof of the great difficulties 

 which enshroud the whole subject of bird-migration. 



Autumn Immigration froin Central Europe. — This 

 is by far the most important of the autumn migrations of 

 the Rook witnessed on our shores, for it is from Central 

 Europe that we receive the great majority of the foreign 

 birds of this species which winter in Britain. 



The immigrants arrive on the south-east coast of 

 England, from the Humber to the coast of Kent, at 

 dates ranging from the latter half of September to mid- 

 November,^ the greatest numbers appearing during late 

 October, when these movements are often in progress 

 for several successive days, during which vast numbers 

 pour in upon our shores." 



The direction of the flight varies, being as a rule 

 directly from east to west at or about the mouth of the 



1 The first recorded appearance is i6th September, in 1880. 



2 In October 1884 the migrations covered twenty-two days. 



