88 NOTES ON THE NATURAL HISTORY OP THE BELL ROCK. 



and general colouring, this migrant might easily be mistaken 

 for a hen blackbird, but for the conspicuous white crescent 

 across the throat, in this instance somewhat faint, but well 

 denned, owing possibly to the bird being in immature plumage. 

 On the morning of the 24th October over two dozen tiny 

 gold-crest wrens were circling round our lantern, jostling and 

 tumbling over each other in frantic efforts to keep in line 

 with the white flash, the red flash evidently having no attrac- 

 tion for them. A skylark and robin were also of the com- 

 pany, as well as several redwings. The robin always seems 

 to have a truer sense of his position than any other of our 

 visitors. While the others clamour futilely against the glass 

 he maintains an aloofness and self-possession truly remark- 

 able. His eyes seem to be everywhere, and only with difficulty 

 and the exercise of a little strategy is his capture effected. 

 Of course, our captures are but temporary, and merely for 

 the sake of a few minutes' examination. 



We had rather a disappointing experience with the 

 Channel Fleet while cruising in these waters last month 

 (September). Passing north in the dark, we were quite 

 unaware of their presence, the Sutlej alone being seen later 

 steaming north at 6 p.m. on the 21st, nearer to Arbroath 

 than to us. On returning south a string of brilliant lights 

 passing three miles outside of us at two o'clock in the morn- 

 ing was all we saw of the procession. 



On 29th October a flock of thirteen field-fares passed at 

 9 a.m., flying towards Arbroath. This is the first arrival 

 here of these birds, and earlier than usual. 



On examining a lark which had been killed on the lantern 

 the other night, a small land shell was found adhering to the 

 feathers on the under part of the body. Arguing from this 

 instance, the assumption that they also are imbued with the 

 migratory instinct and adopt this mode of travelling would 

 probably be considered far-fetched. That there is much un- 

 dreamt of in our philosophy is as pregnant as when uttered, 

 and possibly the connection between mollusc and bird was 

 due to circumstances other than purely accidental. 



