268 A Month un the Eddystone. 



few cases that came under my notice at the Eddystone. 

 In addition to those of the Skylarks and the Meadow- 

 Pipits (which shewed a very considerable variation in size 

 and certain peculiarities of plumage inter se, though all were 

 obtained during single movements), the Starlings killed on 

 the night of Oct. 12th-13th were all of one race, namely, the 

 purple-headed form, and yet the wings of the males varied 

 from 5'38 in. to 5-0 in. (four being over 5"25 in.) and of the 

 females from 5*15 in. to 485 in. (13 being over 5 in.). 

 Some, probably most, of this remarkable variation was due 

 to age, much to individualism, none to race. This influence 

 of age was well illustrated in the Blackbirds obtained ; the 

 wings of all the young males measured from '30 to "40 in. less 

 than the adult. To be of any real use, beyond, of course, 

 the important one of identification, all wings should be 

 accompanied by the age and sex of the specimen from which 

 they were taken, and it is important, where possible, to 

 obtain a number of examples from the same movement. 

 Until these essential data are forthcoming, it is impossible 

 to realize the true significance of wing-raeasurements, and 

 it is worse than useless to draw deductions from them. 



On the question of the young and old birds travelling 

 together or apart on their migrations, or in what species they 

 do so, my observations at the Eddystone throw some light. 

 Swallows, both adults and juveniles, were observed passing in 

 company during the daytime; and young and old of theMistle- 

 Thrush, Redwing, Blackbird, Wlieatear, Stonechat, Yellow 

 Wagtail, and Skylark were obtained together at the lantern 

 at night. 



Since I left the Eddystone, the keepers have furnished 

 me with a series of carefully filled-in schedules, wherein 

 are recorded in detail all the observations up to date. I 

 succeeded in thoroughly interesting them in the work. 



A pleasant duty remains. I have to express to the Elder 

 Brethren of the Trinity House my gratitude for the privilege 

 they so graciously granted me. My thanks are also tendered 

 to Captain Reading and to G. F. Treleavan, Esq , for the 

 information and assistance they so kindly aff'ordcd me ; and 



