73 



It once fell to the lot of the author to witness an extensive 

 migration of certain small species — Finches, Larks and Starlings, 

 — on the Norfolk coast, during the prevalence of very strong 

 southerly and south-westerly winds. At the point of observation 

 numerous flocks of Finches, principally Fringilla coelebs and 

 chloris, were passing from north to south, closely following the 

 eastern shores of the "Wash. These birds were flying at a good 

 speed and without any halt for rest, at a height of about thirty to 

 forty feet. The same may be said of the Starlings and Skylarks. 

 On one day, however, when the south-west wind was particularly 

 strong, flocks of Finches might have been observed coming in from 

 directly over the sea. These birds did not come headlong down 

 from a great height ; though they appeared when first viewed like 

 small specks of dust, just as described by Herr Giitke. Now 

 these latter flocks did not, on reaching the coast-line, alight for a 

 rest, but hurried on at the same elevation and in the same direc- 

 tion as the first-named flocks, thus plainly showing that they had 

 not reached their journey's end. It seems probable, therefore, 

 that it is only when passing over wide areas of sea that small birds 

 mount to any great height, and even then there is no evidence to 

 show that they rise to such altitudes as Herr Gatke endeavours to 

 prove, or that they will necessarily meet with conditions more 

 favourable to their migrations in the latter regions. 



It will be interesting to compare the observations of other 

 ornithologists living in different localities on the winds most 

 favourable to visible migration with those of Herr Giltke. The 

 following extracts are taken from Mr. John Cordeaux's " Birds of 

 the Humber District" (pub. 1872). 



Writing on the Short-eared Owl he remarks (p. 13): "The 

 winter of 1865-66 was characterised by large arrivals of these 

 Owls, when after some heavy northerly gales during the last 

 fortnight in October many appeared at various localities along 

 the eastern coast." 



Further on he quotes the following note by Mr. J. E. Griffith, 

 from the Zoologist. The latter observer remarks (p. 27) : "I 

 write to inform you of the occurrence of the Blue-throated 

 Warbler (P. suecica) off the coast of Norfolk. While crossing 

 from Christiania to London by the ss. ' North Star,' we had 



