XU INTRODUCTION. 



Mr. Harvie-BroAvn, that a large niniiber of species follow the 

 trending of the Solway during their periodical journeys. On 

 this subject precise data is sadly meagre, but our own 

 exiJerience, and that also of careful observers, enable us to 

 suggest three probable migratory lines. Line No. 1 would 

 start about Berwick, and, passing from north-east to south-west, 

 would culminate on the Solway basin. Line No. 2 would 

 start from Tynemouth, and, following the rivers Tyne and 

 Irthing, would meet the first line on the Solway. Line No. 3 

 woidd start from the Durham coast, and, passing through 

 Weardale or Teesdale, would enter Cumberland near Alston, 

 thence trending south-west to empty its passengers on the 

 Ravenglass and Duddon estuaries. It is impossible to do 

 more than indicate the^e lines as probable, nor must it be 

 supposed in any case that all species would uniformly adhere 

 to these main tracks of migration. The fact, however, that a 

 very large proportion of the rarer forms obtained in Cumber- 

 land have been found in close proximity to the lines of 

 migration thus suggested, is full of significance ; and the lines 

 of flight thus perhaps adopted in autumn, appear to be 

 reverted to by many species on their vernal migration. Thus, 

 in 1885, a great rush of migrants passed over Rockliffe on 

 April 17th, the passage commencing at 8-45 p.m., and being 

 still in full swing at 10-30 p.m. ; Wigeon, Goldeneyes, Geese, 

 and many other species passing in the same direction, from 

 south-west to north-east, wind north-west, night clear, birds 

 flying high ; the passage was resumed on the following- 

 evening, with wind west. It must, however, be pointed out, 

 that while many species appear to use the routes thus 

 delineated both in autumn and spring, yet certain species, e.ff., 

 the EulF, evidently strike eastward from some more southern 

 point, when returning to their breeding grounds, since they 

 rarely or never occur in Cumberland, except in autumn. 



