430 Mr. J. H. Gurney on the Effect of Westerly 



the wind from the west, the bending outline of our coast, 

 and the course taken by the Gulls. When these have flown 

 as far as the salt water goes, I believe they generally settle 

 in such estuaries as the Humber-mouth, the Wash^ and the 

 mouth of the Thames; but land-birds, e.g. Crows and Larks, 

 indicated on the map by the larger dots, go inland, still, in 

 most cases, flying against the wind. 



In my humble opinion it is the west winds of autumn 

 Avhich bring the Pectoral Sandpiper [Tringa maculata) , 

 Sabine^s Gull [Xema sabinii), mid many other IS orth- American 

 birds enumerated in Saunders's Manual — especially among 

 the Scolopacidge — to the east coast of the British Isles, 

 instead of landing them in Ireland, which is much nearer to 

 the United States. Or, i£ Sabine^s Gull does occur in 

 Ireland, it is on the east side, as all the records show, where 

 it has a wind to fly against. Certainly if it were not for 

 the west wind there would not be that annual east-to-west 

 autumnal migration which there is to Norfolk and on the 

 east coast of England generally. The direction taken by 

 the birds would be changed if the prevailing winds blew 

 from any other quarter than west, for they like flying 

 against it, account for it how we may, though it is not to 

 be denied that there are now and then exceptions. But a 

 cause for such may be guessed at, if sought for. If 

 the birds did not fly against the wind they would often 

 be carried away by it. 



On the other hand, a gale of moderate strength, from 

 whatever quarter, has a very difi^erent effect, bearing all the 

 sea-birds and land-birds ahke before it if strong, and for the 

 smaller land-birds a very slight puff will suffice. The 

 memorable flight of Blue-throats {Cyanecula suecica) to the 

 coast of Norfolk in September 1884 was considered by those 

 on the spot to be immediately after an east wind increasing 

 in force and very gusty, which the Blue-throats must have 

 flown with, and not against. The vast incursion of Gold- 

 crests (Regulus cristatus) in the autumn of 1882, which ex- 

 tended far beyond the limits of Norfolk, and ^vas "\\\ie. a 



