1920.] of the Migratory Flight of Birds. 925 



I also glean the following notes from the ' Field/ 

 Plover (Field, 22. ix. 17) were met with at 6000 feet on 

 G.ix. in N.E. France, flying north with a 25 in.j).h. wind 

 from the south. Again on 5. iii. Capt. Portal (Field, 

 17. iii. 17) saw a large Hock of Lapwing at 5000 feet flying- 

 due north. The ground wind was 5 m.p.li. from the south, 

 but at 3000 feet and over it was north-west and blowino- 

 30 m.p.h., whilst at 5000 feet it was nearly due north. 



My own observations from the air are confined to a solitary 

 instance, though I frequently flew in both Palestine and 

 East Africa when migration was in full swing. It occurred 

 in early April at about 7 a.m. in East Africa, when at 5200 

 feet over the southern slopes of Kilimanjaro we encountered 

 a large scattered flock of Lesser Kestrels and Bee-eaters 

 (Alerops apiaster), making their way north against a slight 

 head wind. The day was one of those perfect African 

 mornings, and the sun shining on the brilliant hues of 

 these birds wending their way north to their nurseries, 

 against the glistening snows of Kilimanjaro, was one of 

 those scenes never to be forgotten. 



During the recent war I was able to make the following- 

 observations on diurnal migration, in each case the height of 

 flight being obtained by the use of theodolites on a wide 

 base. 



British East Africa. 



Red-throated Pipits. 210 feet. 



Wagtails. 160-240 feet. 



Swallows. 210, 235, and 240 feet. 



Rollers. 720, 840, 850, and 860 feet. 



Kestrels. 150-310 feet. 



Caspian Plover. 480, 490, 830 feet. 



(All taken in the early morning in clear still weather on 

 autumn passage.) 

 Southern Palestine. 



Pelicans. 1240 feet. A clear still October afternoon, 

 birds travelling south-west. 

 North-west France. 



Rooks. (3 cases) 1740, 2008, and 2120 feet, all taken on 

 still evenings in late October. Birds Hying west. 



