298 THE BIRDS OF YORKSHIRE. 



pastures. This autumn unprecedented numbers came, and 

 I have heard of them in many localities on this coast. It is 

 astonishing any are left to migrate, considering the number, 

 year after year, destroyed on their first arrival, as well as 

 many which figure afterwards amongst the " sundries " of 

 the autumn and winter shootings. Mr. Lewis, the Principal 

 of the Spurn Lighthouse, says he has never known them 

 strike the glass like other birds, but during the period of 

 migration they will fly round and round the lantern, apparently 

 not incommoded by the blaze of light, and take off small 

 birds that are fluttering and beating themselves to death 

 against the glass. They arrived off Flamborough in flocks 

 of from ten to twenty. The Principal has never known them 

 strike the glass, but has twice observed them perched on the 

 gallery rail on the outside of the lantern. North of Flam- 

 borough they appear to have been equally numerous along the 

 coast." Great numbers also arrived at the same time at 

 Redcar and the Teesmouth ; I saw ten on the rocks at low tide 

 on I7th October, and another on a chimney-stack in the town, 

 while many were noted along the sand-banks. 



In a letter received from Heligoland, H. Gatke stated : 

 " The Short-eared Owls pick off the poor birds when they 

 are dazzled by the glare of the lighthouse, but not those 

 fluttering against the glass ; but thrushes on the wing 

 constantly one hears their dying cries when clutched by the 

 nude talons of an Owl that has just flitted like a phantom 

 noiselessly past the light." 



In the autumn of 1879 these birds arrived at Spurn at 

 intervals during the last week in October, being most numerous 

 on the morning of the 30th and all had departed by the next 

 day. During the January of 1880, when many migratory 

 species were most erratic in their movements, a fresh immigra- 

 tion occurred at Spurn on the 30th. In 1881 they were again 

 abundant at the Teesmouth, as also in October 1895, as 

 many as twenty being seen together. In 1896 numbers were 

 reported both at the Teesmouth and Spurn ; and again over 

 the whole of the north-east coast district, in 1903. At Redcar 

 they are frequently observed coming directly off the sea, 



