252 Mr. W. Eagle Clarke on Birds 



of Wading-birds wliicli we had observed on the mud-flats of 

 the opposite coast at Le Conquet. The brilliant weather, 

 too, was decidedly against any migratory movement, pro- 

 nounced or otherwise. Some of the species were, however, 

 observed in considerable numbers. 



The following species noted may perhaps be best described 

 as winter visitors to the island, though the nesting-grounds 

 of some of them are probably not far distant. These 

 were the Kingfisher, Cormorant, Shag, Common Gull, 

 Herring-Gull, Lesser and Greater Black-backed Gulls, 

 and Kittiwake. Certain of the species observed as birds of 

 passage — the Turnstone, for instance — are also winter 

 residents. 



I took with me to Ushant a carefully-prepared series of 

 questions relating to the birds and their migrations as 

 observed on the island, copies of which I left with the 

 " Gardien Chef " of each lighthouse, with a request for 

 answers and such other information bearing upon the 

 subject as they could afford me. These documents I had 

 to abandon on quitting the island. But on mentioning the 

 fact to Mr. Consul Hoare, at Brest, he most kindly offered 

 to see the authorities at the Fonts et Chaussees, under whose 

 jurisdiction the lighthouses fall, and endeavour to procure 

 for me the information I desired. As the result, 1 have 

 received excellent and most useful answers to my enquiries 

 from each of the Ushant lighthouses. 



From these we learn that the island is visited annually by 

 vast numbers of birds of passage, and that on dark, moonless, 

 and starless nights, w^ith easterly winds, during the autumnal 

 migratory period, from 500 to 600 birds are killed at the 

 lantern — among others, Chaffinches, Thrushes, Blackbirds, 

 Wild Ducks, Waterhens, Plovers, Lapwings, Woodcocks, 

 Snipes, and Curlews. As an illustration of the phenomenal 

 numbers which sometimes occur, the Chef of the Pliare de 

 Creach informs me that on one night in the autumn of 

 1888 no fewer than 1500 birds perished by striking the lantern 

 — an extraordinary number, truly ; but its accuracy is 

 confirmed and vouched for by the engineer to the lighthouse 



