H, LYNES: MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 141 



that the ship was in the middle of the bay with land all 

 round except from south-eastward to south-westward. 



Another interesting occurrence connected with wind 

 took place when we were steaming along the south coast 

 of Crete on October 7th, 1907. There was not a cloud 

 in the sky, but a very strong north wind was blowing, not 

 a local wind, but one which extended very likely up to the 

 African coast. We were only a few miles from the shore, 

 so that we got into calm water, while the mountain 

 ranges of Madara and Ida screened the ship from some 

 of the wind, and entirely sheltered the sea within a mile 

 of us landwards. 



At 5 p.m. a Swallow passed the ship, beating low against 

 the wind, flying landward, due north. This bird had 

 probably started from the south coast of Crete on his 

 southward passage shortly before five o'clock, and finding 

 the stern- wind too much for it, had wisely turned back 

 before going too far. I believe it is generally accepted 

 that a strong wind astern is as objectionable to a bird 

 as the flood tide is to the navigator when entering a 

 narrow harbour. 



Cause II. Rain. 



From what I have seen, I believe that in the Medi- 

 terranean the chief factor in bringing birds on board ship. 

 and the principal scourge of the migrant host, is rain ; 

 not steady settled rain, which generally lasts for some 

 time and is preceded or accompanied by stormy weather, 

 tending to prevent migrants setting out on their journey, 

 but changeable weather with heavy thunderstorms. 



These are just the conditions that prevail in the 

 Mediterranean during the four months of the year in 

 which the migration of birds across that sea is at its 

 greatest intensity. 



April showers, the sea calm, the wind light and variable, 

 blue sky with light cirro-cumuli clouds ; here and there 

 a blurred nimbus cloud drawn down to the horizon, 



