304 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 



doubted facts regarding the migrations of birds whicli, 

 during the past few years, have been brought to light 

 and established by statistics collected for the Migra- 

 tion Committee of the British Association. 



Zd, I will also describe the present aspect, surface, and 

 general physical geography of the Isle of May as it 

 has been ascertained by personal inspection on more 

 than one occasion, one of which, during part of the 

 autumn migration of 1884 — viz., in September and 

 October — extended over three weeks and three days, 

 a,nd other visits which were taken advantage of during 

 the breeding season of the summer visitants. 



Uh, I will treat of the actual bird-rlife of the island, care- 

 fully re-editing what was previously known of its 

 bird-life, and condensing the records of its passing 

 migrants during these years in which the aforesaid 

 Migration Committee has been at work; and I will 

 read the introductory portion of this, fourth division 

 of my paper, and notes upon the species which are 

 found breeding on the island. ^ 



Lastly, We consider that the time at which we desire to 

 give the aforesaid particulars of the Isle of May is 

 singularly fortunate, in this wise : namely, that Mr 

 Joseph Agnew — ^to whose very superior acumen and 

 deep interest in the matters which concern the working 

 of our Migration Committee, and his capabilities as a 

 field naturalist of seven years' experience, our com- 

 mittee is individually and severally deeply indebted 

 — is about to leave the Isle of May, very possibly for 

 a less favoured isle. We are quite certain that 

 wherever he may be stationed, even where there are 

 no birds whatever to observe, that we may be assured 

 of his continued interest and sympathy in the work 



1 But I do not intend just now to inflict upon 3^ou the somewhat dry repe- 

 titions of detail connected with the statistics of migration, but leave that 

 over for more thorough preparation up to date (and I may state here, inci- 

 dentally, that such a resume seems desirable regarding all the more important 

 stations, when the present statistics come to be reduced for furtlier results). 



