on the Eddystone, 247 



witness the departure-movements from Britain, and that 

 an ideal watch-tower would be one situated well out in 

 waters of the English Channel, for there the birds could be 

 observed actually en route from our Islauds to their southern 

 winter-quarters, and there, too, the movements would be 

 free from the complexities, due to coasting-propensities, so 

 common to birds at most land-stations. The famous Eddy- 

 stone Lighthouse offered all these advantages. 



On maiiing known my project to Professor Newton, he, 

 with his characteristic kindness, at once offered his valuable 

 assistance, with the result that, through his instrumentality 

 and that of Sir Michael Foster, my application for per- 

 mission to reside in the Lighthouse was forwarded to the 

 Trinity House by, and with a strong recommendation from, 

 the Royal Society. The request was most graciously granted 

 by the Elder Brethren, and I took up my residence on the 

 Eddystone on the 18th of September last and remained 

 there until the 19th of October. 



Life on a rock-station has, of course, its little trials. He 

 who seeks to dwell therein must, among other things, be 

 prepared to share in all respects the lot of the keepers, and 

 also to be shut off from communication with the outer world 

 until the monthly "relief" comes round, when, weather 

 permitting, his incarceration ends and he returns to the 

 ordinary comforts of everyday life. I may say at once, 

 however, that the novelty of the situation, the interesting 

 nature of my self-imposed work, and last, but not least, the 

 great kindness of the keepers, far outbalanced those little 

 discomforts which are inseparable from such a life; and 

 I shall ever look back upon my sojourn in that lonely 

 observatory with extreme pleasure and satisfaction. 



The Eddystone rocks consist of three contiguous reefs, 

 which lie fourteen miles south-Avest of Plymouth. The 

 central reef is the most extensive, its exposed length at low 

 water being some 150 yards, while its jugged crest then rises 

 about 15 feet above the sea. At high water all the rocks are 

 either submerged or have their highest points awash. The 

 lighthouse stands isolated at the northern extremity of the 



