250 Mr. W. Eagle Clarke—^ Month 



Just before the time named, however, the wind fell to a 

 moderate breeze, but the heavy rain still continued. 

 Almost immediately after the wind moderated, the birds 

 appeared in numbers, and the scene from the gallery 

 was very remarkable. The birds were tlyiug around on 

 all sides, and those illumined by the slowly revolving 

 beams from tlie 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 disappointed 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 as they flew in the beams 

 towards the lantern were entirely efi'aced by the dazzling 

 brilliancy of the light, and the smaller species had to be 

 lifted from the lantern ere their identity could be ascer- 

 tained; while the birds careering around became mere 

 apparitions on passing the rays into the semi-darkness 

 beyond. A number of species undoubtedly escaped detec- 

 tion ; 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, "^Uedstarts, '^Sedge- Warblers, ^Pied Fly- 

 catchers, *Yellow Wagtails, Turtle-Doves, Redshanks, and 

 Curlews. The Song-Thrushes, Yellow Wagtails, and Turtle- 

 Doves were most in evidence. 



The Turtle-Doves were a great puzzle ; for though they 

 often approached the lantern, yet they recovered themselves 

 sufficiently to avoid striking it, and it was not until day- 

 break, wlien one was observed resting on the top of 

 Smeaton's tower and another on the dome of the light- 

 house, that the mysterious strangers stood revealed. The 

 Yellow Wagtails captured included both adults and young. 



The birds which struck the lantern did so after travelling 

 directly up the beams of light ; but a number of them flew 

 high and passed over the dome. The emigrants came from 

 the north and continued to arrive and pass on until 5 a.m., 

 but before the appearance of dawn the movement ceased. 



This rush was evidently composed of departing British 



