2i8 THE MIGRATION OF BRITISH BIRDS 



Association Reports it is very palpable that there is very 

 little migration into Ireland in the extreme south-west, 

 infinitely much less even than that observable in the 

 south-west of England. Records from Fastnet indicate 

 that the Wheatear, '■ Swallows," and VVhimbrel enter 

 Ireland by that route, but the migration at this station 

 is evidently trifling, especially in spring : in autumn more 

 birds are. observable, but many of them are obviously 

 abnormal migrants too far west of their usual course 

 south, or they should be observed in spring as v/ell. At 

 the next station east (Galley Head) much the same state 

 of things prevails, the keeper very significantly remark- 

 ing {Report, V. p. 86) that he has " never been at a station 

 with less birds about than this one." The same remarks 

 practically apply to all the stations on the south coast 

 of Ireland until we reach the vicinity of St. Georges 

 Channel, when we begin to obtain conclusive evidence 

 of a regular and fairly strong migration in spring from 

 the south. This water area, I need scarcely point out, is 

 the narrowest sea-passage for all birds entering Ireland 

 from the south, and is the point of former land connec- 

 tion between that island and England. It is the one 

 principal route of Summer Migrants into Ireland ; Holy- 

 head, St. Bees, and Menai showing no spring route to 

 Ireland whatever. The route from England either fol- 

 lows the extreme south-west, perhaps crossing the 

 Bristol Channel via Lundy, but mostly higher up in the 

 narrower portions, thence following west through South 

 Wales to Pembroke, where the sea-passage begins ; or, 

 it may extend north-westerly from the south coast of 

 England across the Bristol Channel or the mouth of 

 the Severn, and thence via South Wales by the same 



