THE GREAT WAXWING INVASION OF 1 92 1 141 



be regarded as possessing absolute accuracy, they possess a 

 relative accuracy sufficient to justify the general interpreta- 

 tions put upon them. 



Lest, however, too much stress may seem to have been laid 

 on the imperfection of the records, it should be added that, for 

 a casual accumulation of notes, the records are wonderfully 

 complete, since from the first day of the immigration, loth 

 November, till the 8th December, one or more records were 

 received for each separate day, with the exception of one 

 day, the 5th December. 



Three distinct climaxes or waves of immigration, separated 

 by periods of quiescence, are apparent. The first occurred 

 on loth November, when about 21 birds were seen. Then 

 followed a lull for three days on none of which more than 

 about 4 birds were seen. 



The second and greatest wave may be regarded as 

 beginning on i6th November, when 27 birds were recorded, 

 and it reached its maximum with a great influx on i8th 

 November, when eight recorders mention a total of 127 

 Waxwings. Following this outburst of migration came an 

 irregular but progressive decline in the numbers of birds 

 observed, which proceeded till the 29th November, when 

 only three individuals were noted. Nevertheless this period 

 showed some very considerable daily totals, as on 21st 

 November, 82 birds; 22nd, 58 birds; 23rd, 6j birds; 25th, 

 52 birds ; and 27th about 36 birds. These high numbers, like 

 the low numbers which occurred on the intervening days, show 

 as a rule a progressive decline, and such a gradual decrease 

 might be partly accounted for by the scattering of the flocks 

 which reached the island at the time of the maximum of 

 immigration. The numbers probably bear some relation to 

 the great influx on the i8th November, as well as to fresh 

 arrivals on the succeeding days. 



The third wave began early in December, although in- 

 definiteness in the recorded dates prevents precision here. 

 It seems, however, to have reached its maximum about the 

 2nd and 3rd December, the total number of Waxwings 

 seen during the first four days of the m^onth having been 

 approximately ninety. 



129 AND 130 S 



