112 Mr. W. Eagle Clarke — Bird-migration 



Fig. 7-9. Emberiza luteolrt, p. 109. 



„ 10. spodocephala, p. 109. 



„ 11. cinerea, p. 109. 



„ 12. spodocephala, p. 109. 



„ 13. stracheyij p. 110. 



„ 14. stewarti, p. 110. 



,, 15. stracheyi, p. 110. 



IX. — Studies in Bird-migration. II. The Results of Obser- 

 vations made at the Kentish Knock Lightship in the Autumn 

 o/1903. By William Eagle Clarke, P.R.S.E., P.L.S. 



(Plate IV.) 



Among the most interesting of the varied movements of 

 birds observed in the British Isles are those remarkable 

 intermigrations which take place in spring and autumn be- 

 tween the south-eastern coast of England and the opposite 

 shores of the Continent, and mainly come under notice at 

 the numerous lightships stationed between the mouth of the 

 Humber and the Straits of Dover. 



If not actually a discovery resulting from the investiga- 

 tions of the Migration Committee appointed by the British 

 Association, it is assuredly due to the labours of that body, 

 and especially those of the late Mr. John Cordeaux, its 

 Secretary, that attention was first prominently drawn to 

 these important flights across the southern waters of the 

 North Sea. To those investigations we owe most of our 

 present knowledge regarding such movements. 



During the preparation of the " Digest of the Obser- 

 vations on the Migrations of Birds made at Lighthouses 

 and Lightships, 1880-1887/'' it became evident to me that 

 much remained to be learned concerning these movements 

 and the various conditions under which they were performed, 

 and I conceived the idea of undertaking some researches 

 regarding them. To accomplish this, however, it was essen- 

 tial that I should spend some weeks on one of the light- 

 ships — a course which demanded some consideration, since 

 life on one of these floating observatories presents discomforts 

 which arc peculiarly its own. Encouraged, however, by the 



