on the Eddy stone. 251 



summer visitors, spurred to move soutliwards by the very- 

 unsettled weather of the previous few days. I witnessed no 

 second movement of a precisely similar nature, though, no 

 doubt, other flittings away of our summer birds followed ; 

 but the nights were brilliantly fine, and the migrants passed 

 southwards unobserved. On this occasion the lantern was 

 attractive to the birds by reason of its rays being rendered 

 unusually luminous as they streamed out on the heavy rain 

 which prevailed. 



This movement was followed by several minor emigra- 

 tions : that is to say, they were less important so far as they 

 came under observation. 



On September the 30th, at 9.30 p.m., following a lifting of 

 fog (wind E.S.E., moderate breeze, hazy), *Song-Thrushes, 

 ■^Meadow-Pipits, ■^Chaffinches, and other undetermined 

 species appeared. The movement ceased to be observed on 

 the appearance of the moon at 10.45 p.m. 



October 1st. — Numbers of "^Meadow-Pipits passing from 

 2 a.m. to 5 a.m. (wind S., moderate breeze). At night, on 

 the rolling away of fog at 9.45, and during intervals of light 

 rain up to 11.15, "^Starlings (first) and '^Wheatears (first) 

 appeared at the lantern (wind S., moderate breeze, cloudy). 



October 10th. — After a gale of three and a half days' 

 duration, the night of the 9tli was clear and starlight, with 

 a gentle breeze from the N.N.W. ; at 2 a.m. the sky became 

 overcast, and '^Song-Thrushes, Mistle-Thrushes (first). Red- 

 wings (first), ^Skylarks, ''^Starlings, *Meadow-Pipits, and 

 some undetermined Passerines appeared and were observed 

 until 3.30 A.M. This was the first movement in which Birds 

 of Passage were undoubtedly present — that is to say, 

 species (the Redwing, for instance) which, having arrived 

 in Britain from the Continent, had traversed our shores 

 and were seeking more southerly winter-quarters by crossing 

 the Channel via the Eddystone. 



October lOth-llth. — During passing showers, from 

 7.15 P.M. to 9 P.M., Song-Thrushes and Skylarks were 

 present. At 4 a.m., under similar conditions, several 

 Starlings were Hying round the lantern, (Wind W.S.W., 

 light breeze.) 



