THE MIGRATIONS OF THE ROOK 275 



There are only a few records relating to these move- 

 ments northwards on the east coast of Britain, and it 

 would seem as if they but rarely came under notice 

 at any of the mainland stations. Rooks in small 

 numbers are, however, observed annually in the Hebrides, 

 including the Flannan Isles, on passage during March 

 and April. They occur at the Faroes on passage 

 about the same time (Andersen), and arrive in Norway 

 during the latter part of March or beginning of April 

 (Collett). 



Irish Migrations. — The regular migrations of 

 the Rook witnessed in Ireland are of an extremely 

 limited nature, and consist of certain arrivals and 

 departures in the spring. Ireland does not appear 

 with certainty to be visited by Continental birds as 

 a winter resort, and the movements observed there 

 in the autumn must at present for the most part 

 be regarded as irregular in their character. There 

 are, however, occasional intermigrations with Great 

 Britain. 



Irish Autumn Movements. — During October and 

 November in some years, Rooks have been recorded as 

 arriving on the south-east coast, but these immigrations 

 are so uncertain and unimportant as not to merit further 

 notice at present. Such passages on the part of other 

 species are among the best observed and most interest- 

 ing of the Irish movements, and the absence of the 

 Rook from the number of the regular immigrants 

 presents a remarkable negative feature, especially since 

 many species from Central Europe which winter in 

 England find their way to Ireland (after traversing 

 the south coast of England) by this route in con- 

 siderable numbers. 



