26G Mr. W. Eagle Chukc— .^ Month 



(liate vicinity of the lighthouse. During fog, charges of 

 touite are exploded every five niiuutes and produce a terrific 

 report, which must have a decidedly scaring effect on any 

 approaching migrants, if such there be. 

 , The only migratory species observed during gales were the 

 single exainplcs of the Red-necked Phalarope observed on 

 two occasions. Certain other species, such as Skuas and 

 Storm-Petrcls, the latter especially, Avere much in evidence 

 when the weather was unsettled and the wind high. 



An important and interesting point in connexion with the 

 phenomenon of emigration is the hour at which the emigrants 

 set out upon their night movements. This, however, is a very 

 difficult and obscure subject to investigate. No one, so far 

 as I am aware, has ever witnessed the act of birds rising on 

 the wing to depart on their nocturnal journeys ; while the 

 observations made at land-stations, which may be considered 

 to bear upon the question, are surrounded by and associated 

 with elements of great uncertainty. At the Eddystone, 

 and other stations situated immediately off tlie south coast, 

 it seemed possible in the autumn to jDroeure data which 

 might enable us to fix this time of embarkation with some 

 degree of accuracy. To this end 1 made a series of careful 

 observations on the time of first appearance of emigrants at 

 the Eddystone, and found that on a number of occasions 

 in October this ranged from 6.50 p.m. to 7.15 p.m. The 

 species noted were Song-Thrushes, Skylarks, Starlings, and 

 Chaffinches ; but others were sometimes present, though 

 not identified. On the dates on which these observations 

 were made, the hour of sunset ranged from 5.30 p.m. to G p.m., 

 but darkness did not ensue until about 6.15 p.m., or a little 

 later. It is fair to assume that these earliest birds to appear 

 had only a short time previously set out from localities con- 

 tiguous to the shores of the mainland, souse twelve miles 

 distant. Taking these facts into account, I have come to the 

 conclusion that when the weather conditions at the hour are 

 favourable, the initial movement for crossing the Channel is 

 embarked upon almost immediately after darkness prevails. 

 During each major movement witnessed, neither the species 



