75 



which Woodcocks travel, for, according to Mr. Cordeaux's 

 observations, they do not seem to rise to a strata of the atmo- 

 sphere out of the reach of the unfavourable winds before alluded 

 to, but to battle against them until they reach the land. In the 

 light of Herr Giitke's theories on the slight changes in the 

 weather which will influence the current of migration they should 

 adopt the former course. 



On p. 123 Mr. Cordeaux has also a footnote to the effect that 

 at the period of the autumnal migrations our various migratory 

 species, both of shore and land birds, are invariably most abun- 

 dant on this coast during or after the prevalence of strong N. or 

 N.E. winds. Many observations on the varying character of the 

 winds accompanying migration might be culled from the 

 " Reports on the Migration of Birds." The following may be 

 quoted (Sixth Report, 1884). 



" East Coast of Scotland. — Long spell of B. winds in April 

 and rushes, but a light S.W. wind on the 30th, changing from 

 S. to E., brought a ' wonderful rush of land birds.' This seems 

 to me [Mr. J. A. Harvie Brown] interesting, as proving the 

 station to lie in the direct route of migration, rushes occurring 

 both in the most favourable winds — S.E. or E. (i.e. for spring 

 migration), and those supposed to be less favourable, and 

 following winds, viz., S.W." 



" A later schedule, April 80th to June 3rd, shows evidences of 

 a decidedly late spring migration, for which it seems difficult to 

 assign a cause. ... It took place in second week of May, 

 and with light S.W. and W. winds, mist, fog and rain ; princi- 

 pally of warblers and insect-feeding species." (Isle of May.) 



" Inch Keith. — This land-locked station returns a light sche- 

 dule, of considerable interest, however, as carrying out what has 

 been remarked by us in previous reports, that when birds do 

 occur here on migration it is usually with S.W. and westerly 

 winds, whether in spring or in autumn." 



The following note refers to a strong migration at the Isle of 

 May, from November 4th to 6th. The wind was apparently S.E. 

 or S. at the commencement— though the report does not actually 

 state the fact — afterwards changing to W. The editor remarks : 

 " Mr. Agnew describes this as the largest rush of migrants this 



