286 STUDIES IN BIRD-MIGRATION 



first movement I had ever witnessed under such 

 advantageous conditions, and will ever remain in- 

 effaceably impressed on my memory. I was aroused 

 from my sleep by the keeper on duty with the words 

 " Birds, sir," and was on the gallery a few moments later, 

 when the scene which presented itself was very remark- 

 able. The birds were flying around on all sides, and 

 those illumined by the slowly revolving beams from the 

 lantern had the appearance of brilliant glittering objects, 

 while the rain shot past on either hand, as I stood on 

 the lee side, like streams of silver beads. I was not a 

 little surprised to discover how extremely difficult it was 

 to identify the birds seen under such novel and peculiar 

 conditions. Even the conspicuous spots on the breasts of 

 the Song- Thrushes were entirely effaced, as they fluttered 

 in the beams towards the lantern, by the dazzling 

 brilliancy of the light shining directly upon them ; the 

 smaller species had to be lifted from the lantern ere their 

 identity could be ascertained ; and the birds careering 

 around became mere apparitions on passing from the rays 

 into the semi-darkness beyond. A number of species 

 undoubtedly escaped detection ; but the following are 

 known to have participated in the movement, those 

 marked with an asterisk (on this and other occasions) 

 having been either killed or captured : — Song-Thrushes, 

 '^Redstarts, *Sedge-Warblers, *Pied Flycatchers, '"'Yellow 

 Wagtails, Turtle- Doves, Redshanks, and Curlews. The 

 Song-Thrushes, Yellow Wagtails, and Turtle- Doves were 

 most in evidence. The Turtle- Doves often approached 

 the lantern, yet they recovered themselves sufficiently to 

 avoid striking. The Yellow Wagtails killed included 

 both adults and young. 



The birds which struck the lantern did so after 



