267 



&c., to more temperate seas, and so vast quantities of Gulls were observed in the 

 Frith of Forth feeding on them. Again the Sand Grouse (Sijrrhaptes paradoxus), 

 which visited our shores this summer, "from the short time necessary for 

 incubation," says Mr. Tegetmeier, "and the rapid growth of the young, increases 

 so rapidly that it may have been compelled to seek new pastures and to extend its 

 range. It could not traverse northward for climatic reasons ; eastwards its range 

 is limited by the Pacific, southward is the largest bird of the same genus 

 (S. Thibctanits), and it therefore proceeded westward " (15). Cold is another 

 cause of abnormal migration. Birds are pushed on as it were by it from a bleaker 

 into a more sheltered district (16). A large and unusual influx of Ring-Ousels 

 appeared at Spurn Point, Yorkshire, in May this year, and at the time of writing 

 an abnormal migration of Crossbills (Loxia curvirostra) is taking place from 

 Germany. Some have appeared on the coast of Holderness, in Yorkshire, and 

 one was captured and kept on board the light-ship at the Spurn for a week before 

 it escaped. In a letter to Mr. Cordeaux dated July 1st, 18S8, Mr. Gatke sends 

 the following interesting notes of the occurrence of the Crossbill on migration in 

 Heligoland : " Have you seen any Crossbills (Loxia curvirostra) / We are 

 swarming here with them. Since the 16th of June there have been flights from 

 10, 20, 50 — and sometimes all the Hawthorns in my garden you know so well are 

 crammed with them. There must during some days have been hundreds dispersed 

 amongst the foliage. When they are feeding they remain quite dumb, and only 

 wlien taking wing the whole chorus begins, calling ' ciit, ciit, ctit.' I have just 

 mounted an old male, almost as red all over as a male Frinyilla erythrinus ; a 

 few with white bars have been reported, but I have not seen one. They are of all 

 shades, from lemon rump to orange scarlet, and almost carmine, but the greater 

 number, as you may fancy, are grey birds, but not a single striped young one 

 amongst them. These birds are rather out of date ; they are not regular visitors 

 to this island, years intervene without any being seen, and when they do appear 

 it has abnost invariably been in August, with boisterous north-westerly winds and 

 rain ; this year flight has been two months too early, and came with fine sunny 

 weather. All are in excellent plumage — wings, tail, and all." 



In conclusion, it may be noticed that what I have said refers merely to the 

 phenomena of bird migration. The motives in the little wanderers' minds are 

 still, and are long likely to be, an inscrutable mystery. We can onlv affirm that 

 they proceed from a divinely-planted impulse, an ivipycM, which, in truth, must 

 underlie both use and wont or long experience in directing these hidden 

 irresistible journeys over wide Continents and waste seas — 



Quia sit divinitus illis 

 Ingenium, aut rerum fato prudentia major. 



How this instinct or impulse works is a proper question for investigation by 

 naturalists. Thus Darwin supposes, as I have said, that migration is due to long 



(15). W. B. Tegetmeier, "Pallas's Sand Grouse," 1888, p. 18. 



(16). This process has been excellently described by Mr. W. W. Fowler in his " Tales of 

 the Birds," just published (Tale I). 



