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flocks of Larks arrive in this country during the 

 autumn from the north of Europe. 



I have fallen in with them daily about the 

 middle of October, when steaming in the North 

 Sea many miles from land, flying direct for the 

 Norfolk and Suffolk coast. They usually keep 

 company in compact bodies of several hundreds, 

 but now and then a few fatigued by the journey 

 would follow for a short distance and then settle on 

 board where they would creep into the first quiet 

 corner and puffing themselves out like balls would 

 soon be at rest. 



Larks are by far the most numerous of all the 

 birds taken on board the light-ships off the eastern 

 coast, immense clouds being reported to have been 

 often noticed hovering round the lamps during a 

 drizzling rain. After these come the Starlings* 

 and then the Stormy Petrels. The latter however 

 do not strike the lights, but settle on the vessels by 

 day during protracted rough weather ; they are 

 then generally so thoroughly worn out that if 

 thrown up in the air they will immediately return 

 on board. Gulls occasionally come in contact with 

 the lamps, but it is by no means common for any 

 species except the Skua Gull to be taken in that 

 manner. I was informed by the mate of the 

 Neiuarp that he had once found as many as three 

 Skuas on deck during his watch, one of which, a large 

 brown-coloured birdf that he mistook in the dark 

 for a fowl as it was lying disabled in a corner, 

 inflicted a most severe bite on his hand. From all 

 I could learn the species usually taken were either 

 immature Pomarine or Arctic. 



* The first thousand wings that I received during the autumn of 

 1872 were made up as follows : Lark, 520 ; Starling, 348 ; Stormy Petrel, 

 45 ; Brown Linnet, 15 ; Greenfinch, 21 ; Brambling, 6 ; Fieldfare, 2 ; 

 Forktailed Petrel, 1 ; Knot, 2 ; Blackbird, 20 ; Redwing, 13 ; Chaffinch, 

 15 ; Tree Sparrow, 3 ; Rook, 2 ; Snipe, 1 '; Kittiwake, 1. A few of the 

 Warblers were taken the following spring, also one Swallow, but no 

 Martins. I also received the wing of one Razor Bill. 



t Probably the Great Skua. 



