42 



But the week ending May yth was both warm and fine, and all 

 the loiterers appeared. In commenting on the weather, due 

 regard should of course be paid to the atmospheric conditions 

 prevailing further south, which must have induced the migrants to 

 await favourable opportunities for proceeding northwards. 



The vernal notes of Mr. R. Mann indicate, that Whimbrel 

 lingered for a month on the Solway, unless indeed the birds 

 observed were successive instalments which rested and then 

 passed on. 



The presence of the Dotterel on the Solway in May is eminently 

 satisfactory. 



The vernal movement of Wigeon in an easterly direction closely 

 corresponds with that of 1885, though the rush came ten days 

 later than in the former year. 



The influx of Missel Thrushes at St. Bees in April indicates the 

 importance of observations at that station. 



Mr. Hodgson's remarks on a great rush of Skylarks in December 

 bear strongly upon Mr. Harvie Brown's remarks in the Migration 

 Report of 1886; while Mr. Eagle Clarke's suggestion, that many 

 migrants pass in autumn from Scotland to North Wales, via the 

 Isle of Man, thus avoiding the coasts of Cumberland and Lanca- 

 shire, is full of suggestiveness. 



The year 1886 is notable for the absence of certain species in 

 the numbers of former years. Thus, no Goldcrests are reported 

 from the coast ; while the only Short-eared Owl mentioned by any 

 correspondent was probably a home-bred bird, having been shot 

 at Burgh by Mr. Tremble on September 3rd ; on which day, an 

 example was shot in the same district in 1884. 



The presence of Grey Shrikes in spring and autumn confirms 

 the supposition that one or other form occurs in Cumberland 

 almost every year. 



The absence of the Ruff from the record is to be assigned to 

 the fact that shooting was prohibited on the favourite marsh of 

 that species, during the past autumn. Mr. Tremble remarks, in 

 this connection, that, from the year 1856 to 1885, he invariably 

 met with the Ruff on Burgh Marsh in September. 



