A MONTH ON THE EDDYSTONE 309 



chat, Yellow Wagtail, White Wagtail, and Skylark 

 were obtained together at the lantern at night. 



Since my visit, the keepers have furnished me with 

 a series of carefully filled-in schedules, for I succeeded in 

 thoroughly interesting them in the work. These 

 records, together with the wings of a great number of 

 birds killed at the lantern, were sent to me for three 

 years, and along with those furnished to me, as a 

 member of the British Association Migration Committee, 

 for the years 1884-87 inclusive, and my own observations, 

 afford a body of information from which the following list 

 of the birds known to visit this station has been prepared. 

 In all, 75 species have been recorded. It is highly 

 important to know what birds cross the Channel in the 

 meridian of the Eddystone, the nature of their movements, 

 and the dates on which they are performed. It must be 

 borne in mind, however, that the Eddystone is a watch- 

 tower pure and simple, and not an island on which birds 

 can alight and rest for a time. Consequently, all are 

 visitors to the lighthouse, 90 per cent, of them during 

 the hours of darkness. This being the case, it must be 

 remembered that it is only under particular weather 

 conditions that the migrants approach the light, and 

 these being the exception and not the rule, the vast 

 majority of the migrants pass unnoticed. Consequently, 

 a number of years' observations are essential ere a correct 

 conception can be formed of what bird-migration actually 

 takes place at such a station. 



Sturnus vulgaris. Starling. — Observed on passage 

 in spring, autumn, and winter ; chiefly at night. 



In spring returns northwards from the third week in 

 February, throughout March and April, until sometimes 



