8 STUDIES IN BIRD-MIGRATION 



Others remained for a few moments only, and then 

 took their departure. In all cases these birds on leaving 

 the ship winged their way towards the coast of Kent.^ 



No doubt many birds of the species named and 

 others passed without coming under notice, for a very 

 slight deviation to the west, or east, would carry 

 them beyond the range of observation. Among the 

 rarer species observed were an Icterine Warbler and a 

 Blue-headed Wagtail. The latter, in common with 

 many other species, most probably arrived from the 

 east, though it was in most cases impossible to tell from 

 what quarter these birds came, for they appeared, as 

 it were, mysteriously, not being observed until they 

 perched on the rail or rigging. 



A Phalarope, probably Phala7^opns hyperboi^eus, was 

 observed on the water some little distance from the ship 

 on 13th September. It was one of the very few 

 Limicoline birds that came under observation, and was 

 the only one detected during the daytime. 



These movements of summer birds on their way 

 southwards were prolonged beyond the limits of 

 September. Thus Wheatears and Chiffchaffs were 

 observed on 3rd October ; Starlings, Chaffinches, and 

 Swallows passed on the 13th ; Sand-Martins on the 15th, 

 and Swallows again on the i6th. Here, too, may be 

 mentioned the Rock- Pipits observed on 23rd September, 

 and on 8th and 12th October. 



1 The 19th of September was a great day for migrants (probably most of 

 them immigrants from North-Western Europe) on the coasts of Lincolnshire 

 and Norfolk, where, as I am informed by Mr Gurney, Redstarts, Pied Fly- 

 catchers, Redbreasts, Goldcrests, Ring-Ouzels, Lesser Whitethroats, Blue- 

 throats, Blackcaps, and Grasshopper Warblers occurred. On the same day 

 Redstarts, Pied Flycatchers, Wheatears, Willow-Warblers, and Tree-Pipits 

 were passing south-south-west during the afternoon at the Kentish Knock. 



