128 Mr. W. Eagle Clarke — Bird-migration 



distance ere they were lost amid the waves. The Rook eut 

 the sorriest figure of all the migrants seeking the light. He, 

 ton. tried to obtain foothold on the frame of the lantern 

 whereon to sit amid the blaze of light, but failed and napped 

 and struggled against the windows in a singularly clumsy 

 fashion. Finally, to complete the scene, there was the 

 singular effect produced by its central feature, namely, the 

 great lantern, which, placed high up on the mast, swung 

 slowlv to and fro amid the glittering hosts that danced 

 attendance upon its mystic charms. 



On occasions when the rays were not particularly brilliant 

 the migrants flew aimlessly around, passing from ray to ray, 

 sometimes for many hours. It is extraordinary how long- 

 some birds will fly round a light without resting. As 

 a good example may be mentioned the case of a Kestrel 

 which appeared at 8 p.m. on the 18th of September, and 

 careered around without a break until 1.30 a.m. on the 19th. 

 This bird often came close up to the light, but cheeked itself 

 by spreading its tail ; and it also frequently flew to wind- 

 ward, and then dashed back over the lantern at a tremendous 

 pace. 



When the wind was somewhat high, the birds resorted 

 almost entirely to the lee side of the ship, and approached 

 the lantern head to wind. 



Although some of the night-movements witnessed Avere of 

 considerable magnitude and remarkably prolonged, yet the 

 migrants, on the whole, were singularly silent — indeed, dis- 

 appointingly so. for thus a useful aid to identification was 

 denied me. A novel method for the capture of specimens for 

 determination Avas adopted with success, namely, a sailor was 

 stationed on the sloping roof of the lantern, where, armed 

 with an angler's net, he captured the birds, like so many 

 moths, as they streamed up the beams of light towards him. 

 In this Avay many birds ranging from a Goldcrest to a Rook 

 Avere secured for the purpose of identification. 



The weather-conditions under which the rays from the 

 lantern became conspicuous and attractiA'e were identical 

 with those I had noted at the Eddystone (see f Ibis/ 1902, 



