H. LYNES: MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 51 



passage at night are (1) Bee-Eaters, September 19th, 

 6.30 p.m., at dusk, heard passing south, and (2) 

 November 18th, 7 p.m.. quite dark, when burning search- 

 lights off Damietta, a number of small birds appeared from 

 the northward fluttering in the rays. Both of these occur- 

 rences may have been the continuation of the evening 

 arrival last mentioned. 



It seems to me rather curious that such a representa- 

 tive South-east European species as the Bee-Eater should 

 have been observed on the above and on one other 

 occasion (also at dusk) only, during the whole migration 

 season, and the incident may have its own significance 

 with regard to the mode of migration of that particular 

 species.* 



D. Direction. 

 The direction of the flight was always south or within 

 a few points of it, but arrivals were inclined to come 

 from a little to the east of north rather than from the 

 west of it. This is perhaps only what might be expected 

 from the geography of the Levant and its contiguous 

 land areas. 



{To be continued.) 



* Col. Irby (Ornith. Straits of Gib.) makes a similar note about the 

 autumn passage of Bee-Eaters at Gibraltar, " all with few exceptions 

 being heard passing at night." 



