The Zoologist— May, 18G7. 731 



I have no knowledge. It was observable principally from day-break 

 up to noon, after which it appeared nearly to cease. The direction of 

 migration was north to south. I have learned that a vast number of 

 these birds congregated in a small island called Thorney Island, 

 situate at the entrance of Chichester Harbour, and having rested there 

 for a time rose high in the air, one immense cloud, and departed south 

 over the water. From other sources I learn that a great flight of 

 golden plover, peewit, and other species, was observed along the coast 

 east of Selsey-Bill moving in a westerly direction. These birds having 

 reached Selsey-Bill appeared to turn off over the water in a course due 

 south, and were thence lost to sight. This was on the 2nd and 3rd 

 of January, though the numbers were far greater on the former day. 

 Being on the coast on the 19th I noticed a migration of small birds, in 

 scattered parties, consisting principally of sky larks, all flying in a 

 westerly direction over the entrance of Chichester Harbour, and 

 thence over Hayling Island. Now this is west of Selsey-Bill ; and, in 

 the absence of observations from other parts, it is difficult to arrive at 

 any conclusion as to the route or destination of these migrants. It is 

 remarkable that the course taken is exactly opposite to that pursued 

 by the bulk of our summer visitants in their autumnal migrations (see 

 S. S. 89). If I remember rightly the wind was blowing from the north 

 on the 2nd of January, but I have omitted to make any note on that 

 point. 



Wild Fowl. — All agree that, considering the severity of the frost and 

 the continuance of wintry weather, wild fowl have been unusually 

 scarce. A swan (Cygnus ferm) was shot by a Bosham gunner in that 

 harbour on the 22nd, out of a flock of seven : this bird I saw next day. 

 A second swan was shot the same dav near Havant, I am told out of 

 the same party : this is recorded in the ' Field ' of January 26th. 

 Very few brent geese have been killed, and no other species of goose 

 that I am aware of. I have seen one pintail, a male, and two adult 

 male goldeneyes. Females and young birds of this latter species are 

 tolerably common, and are known by the name of "widgeon deevers" 

 (divers). Widgeon {Anas Penelope) are the most numerous species, 

 but they even have kept out at sea so much, the wind not being in 

 the right quarter to drive them in, that comparatively few have been 

 killed. Mr. Knox, in his Catalogue of Sussex Birds, considers the 

 scaup duck "the most common species, after the widgeon, that is met 

 with on this coast during the winter months." This, however, I 

 cannot confirm. 1 have found both pochard and tufted duck far more 



