VOL. xm.] NOTES FROM BARDSEY ISLAND. 289 



Starlings flying low. Some of the Starlings returned from the 

 southern end of the island. Were they discouraged by the 

 mist ? Large flocks of Rooks and Jackdaws flying wildly 

 about. The caw of the Rook was not heard, but they were 

 conspicuously larger. An islander up at daylight reported 

 that thousands of small birds went over. Again no Black- 

 birds or Thrushes, ii a.m.— Flock of Chalflnches, some 

 Greenfinches and a few Goldfinches. Some flocks of Rooks 

 and Jackdaws resting on the island. Heard Rooks cawing. 

 Grey Wagtail in fine plumage at the northern end of the 

 island. 3 p.m. — A few Sky-Larks about. 



9.30 p.m. — About a dozen birds flying round and round the 

 light. When they got in the long beam of light they shone 

 out like birds of fire. Occasionally a thud told of a death. 

 Some collided slanting-wise with the lantern and were not 

 hurt. Some scrambled about the framework of the lantern. 

 Most were of the Thrush and Starling build, but there were 

 a few small birds. 



The lantern makes one complete revolution in 15 seconds. 

 Five great arms of light are shot out, all from the same semi- 

 circle. Both the dark semicircle and the arms revolve. 



2ist October. — Wind S.S.W., light. Weather bright. 



Killed against the lighthouse lantern, (i) Fallen within 

 the balcony : three Blackbirds, five Song-Thrushes, twelve 

 Redwings, and eight Starlings. (2) FaUen in the lighthouse 

 precinct (only one outside the wall) : two Blackbirds, a Song- 

 Thrush, seven Redwings, a Starling, a Jack Snipe, and a 

 Water-Rail. Most fell into the balcony owing to the lightness 

 of the breeze. 



6 a.m. — No birds about, except a very few small birds. 

 Twelve Sky-Larks in the largest flock. 



8 a.m. — A great movement of small birds and Starlings 

 began, and going south. The Starlings fly very low, but the 

 small birds, Chaffinches, Linnets, Sky-Larks, etc., fly rather 

 higher ; their plumage visible. A few Blackbirds, Song- 

 Thrushes, and one Redwing resting on the island ; a Linnet 

 singing ; two young Goldcrests in the lighthouse garden. 

 Noon. — An immature Swallow, and a Goldcrest in fine 

 plumage. 



Apparently the small birds (Chaffinches, Linnets, etc.), 

 start at dawn or thereabouts. Why did they arrive later (at 

 8 a.m.) to-day, than on the two previous days (at 7 a.m.) ? 

 Some Sky-Larks migrate by night. The moon is now a sickle. 

 [Full moon on 9th October, last quarter on i6th, new moon 

 on 23rd.] When it was full some days ago, the islanders 



