on the Eddijstone. 267 



nor the individuals of a species appeared simultaneously, 

 though sometimes several kinds arrived in company, and 

 thus the passages were a succession of arrivals practically 

 down to their close. Here we have evidence, I think, that 

 certain of the emigrants had journeyed from districts more 

 or less distant ere the Chainiel was reached on the voyage 

 southwards. 



On each occasion when a number of birds of any species 

 was killed at the lantern, it was interesting to note how 

 considerably they varied in size, and some, though to a 

 less degree, in colour. The Skylarks, 70) in number, 

 obtained during the great movement of October 12th-13th, 

 shewed the remarkable range of wing-measurement of from 

 4*70 in. to 3-85 in. ; the Starlings, obtained on the same 

 date and 53 in number, from 5*38 in. to 4-85 in. ; and the 

 Meadow-Pipits from 3-37 in. to 2-91 in. The Skylarks and 

 Meadow-Pipits exhibited some variation in colour, difficult to 

 describe in words, but quite manifest to the observer. It is 

 possible that more than one race of the two last-named 

 species was represented during the movement, or it may be, 

 in the case of all three species, that the peculiarities in size, 

 &c., were due, in a greater or less degree, to age or sex, 

 or both in combination. 



As regards the characters which may distinguish the various 

 continental representatives of many of our commonest species 

 Ave as yet know extremely little ; while the age of certain birds 

 in the late autumn is not an easy matter to determine, nor 

 do the histories of their plumages at that season appear to be 

 sufficiently well known to help us to reliable conclusions on 

 this point. 



Wing-measurements are valuable as an indication of the 

 range of variation wiihin species, but speculations based 

 upon ordinary material are apt to be extremely misleading. 

 Here, again, sex and age, alone or in combination, may, and 

 do, account for much of the variation to be found, and yet 

 how insignificant are the data in our possession which afford 

 these essential particulars ! 



As bearing directly upon these remarks, I will instance a 



