NOTES. 243 



day, additions in the shape of a few Starlings (Sturnus 

 vulgaris), alighted on the boat deck amidship, and towards 

 nightfall as we were entering the Bay a Song-Thrush (Turdus 

 musicus), was observed flying around. 



On the morning of the 23rd October we were well in 

 the centre of the Bay on a line between Ushant and Cape 

 Finisterre, and the wind which was still in tlie east had 

 freshened considerably during the night. I did not expect 

 to see many birds this day as we w^ere rather to the west of 

 the main autumn route of migrants. What was my astonish- 

 ment therefore on coming on deck to see birds on every hand 

 flying round us out at sea and perched about on and 'tween 

 decks. At one time there must have been well over fifty 

 small birds on the ship. Some of these were no doubt 

 passengers from the day before which bad clung to the ship — 

 notably the Chaffinches. One of these, a handsome cock, 

 found his way into the saloon companion, where I fed him 

 on crumbs. 



The following species were noted during the day. 

 Robins [Erithacus rubecula) several ; Chaffinches, a few ; 

 Redstarts [Ruticilla phoenicuriis) several ; a Blackcap 

 {Sylvia atricapilla) ; Willow- Warblers [Phylloscopus trochilus) 

 several ; Wood-Warblers (P. sihilairix) a few ; a Reed- 

 Warbler {Acrocephalus streperus) ; Sky - Larks, a few ; 

 Starlings, a few ; a Jay [Garrulus glandarius). This latter 

 was observed by a passenger, an officer in the Indian Army, 

 who has a good knowledge of birds. Those birds all alighted 

 on the ship, taking now and then short flights to sea and 

 returning. All seemed tired and hungry. About mid-day the 

 wind veered round to the west and blew a strong breeze. 

 Those birds which now took to wing found it hard to regain 

 the ship. The Reed- Warbler allowed me to catch it. It was 

 plainly in the last stages of exhaustion and its death could 

 only have been a matter of a few hours at most. By sundown 

 the birds gradually disappeared, and next morning off the 

 coasts of Portugal I noted no birds on board. Although I 

 did not actually see any birds die I think it probable thr.t 

 the majority of our feathered passengers to date perished on 

 board or in tlie sea. Doubtless, in most cases it is severe 

 exhaustion or the sensation of approaching death which 

 compels migrants to take refuge on ships. They can rarely 

 pick up sustenance thereon to enable them to recoup their 

 energies and continue their journeys, and as often as not are, 

 while clinging to the ship, carried hopelessly beyond their 

 capacity for making the land. Besides what bird in full 

 ]>ossession of all its activities would face the unusual (and 



