STUDIES IN BIRD-MIGRATION 



CHAPTER XVIII 



A MONTH ON BOARD THE KENTISH KNOCK LIGHTSHIP : 

 A STUDY CHIEFLY DEVOTED TO THE EAST-TO-WEST 

 AUTUMN MOVEMENTS ACROSS THE NORTH SEA. 



Among the most interesting of the varied movements of 

 birds observed in the British Isles and their vicinity 

 are those remarkable intermigrations vi^hich take place 

 in spring and autumn between the south-eastern coast 

 of England and the opposite shores of the Continent, 

 and which mainly come under notice at the numerous 

 lightships stationed between the mouth of the Humber 

 and the Straits of Dover. 



If these important flights across the southern waters 

 of the North Sea were not actually discovered through 

 the investigations of the Migration Committee appointed 

 by the British Association, it is assuredly owing to the 

 labours of that body, and especially to those of my late 

 and most intimate friend, Mr John Cordeaux, that 

 attention was first seriously drawn to them. 



During the preparation of the " Digest of the 

 Observations on the Migrations of Birds made at 

 Lighthouses and Lightships, 1880- 1887," it became 

 evident to me that much remained to be learned 

 concerning these movements and the various species 

 which participate in them, and I conceived the idea of 

 II. 1 A 



