RO UTES OF MIGRA TIOX 2 1 9 



route. That some birds follow this route to Ireland 



exclusively is proved by the date of their arrival in the 



extreme west of that island. Unfortunately we have 



not much data to go on, but I notice among one or two 



other instances that the Spotted Flycatcher does not 



reach the west of Ireland until the last half of Ma)% a 



fortnight or more after its appearance in the south-west 



of England. Did it enter Ireland in the south-west it 



would arrive as early as in England. From recording 



stations in St. Georges Channel we also have many 



records in spring and autumn of such common summer 



migrants as Ring Ouzels, " Swallows," Willow Wrens, 



Wagtails, Cuckoos, and Corncrakes, passing north-west 



into Ireland at the former season, south-east on the 



return journey at the latter season, cvV? England south 



to their winter quarters. Unfortunately we know little 



of the distribution of birds in South-west Ireland, but 



there can be no doubt tJiat none of the species that enter 



the country exclusively across St. Georges Channel breed 



south of lat. 52' 10'. Species that do breed south of 



that latitude in Ireland enter the island by way of the 



coast of Cork and Waterford. As we have already seen, 



very similar conditions prevail in the south-west of 



England, the geographical position of the two areas 



being almost precisely alike in relation to the nearest 



land masses south of each. 



I may here again take the opportunity of pointing out, 

 that notwithstanding the much more favourable geo- 

 graphical conditions in the north-east of Ireland, not a 

 single summer migrant is known to enter that area 

 across the North Channel, another ver\' convincing 

 proof of the Law which forbids a southern extension ot 



