REPORT ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 185 
the last forty years there have never, during a single autumn, 
been a fiftieth part of what we see here now every day—all passing 
along, principally during the forenoon, east of the island in an E. 
by N. direction, which I think they continue till coming to the 
Holstein coast, then strike off in a northerly course up to the 
extreme north of Jutland, and from thence cross over to the 
Dutch coast, perhaps next morning to renew the trip. There are 
constantly so many that one scarcely can believe them always to 
be fresh birds.” 
PRocELLARIDH.—At the Longstone, on Sept. 18th, at 3 a.m., 
two Petrels were caught against the lantern-windows. At Coquet 
Island, on Noy. 4th, 3 a.m., one killed against the lantern. At the 
Goodwin, Oct. 11th, five were seen with many Larks and Starlings 
round the lantern at night. Greater numbers of Procellaria 
glacialis have been seen off Heligoland during the autumn than 
has been the case for the last twenty years. 
Independent of the notes of each species, as already given, 
numerous flocks of small birds were seen passing the stations, but 
too far distant to determine the species. ‘This was specially the 
case at the Spurn, on Dec. 8rd and 8th; at the Cockle, on Oct. 9th ; 
and at the South-sand Head, on Sept.20th. At the Kentish Knock, 
on Nov. 20th, half-a-dozen small birds came on board at midnight, 
which, from the written description in the margin, were probably 
Greenfinches. It is, however, impossible to give even a guess at 
another species which visited another lightvessel on Sept. 20th, 
“ Fifty very small birds—in fact, the smallest of British birds— 
like a Sky Lark, but a deal smaller.” From the date, they may 
have been either Titlarks or Flycatchers. 
No rare migrants have been noticed, but this was scarcely to 
be expected. In this respect the budget of notes supplied by that 
veteran ornithologist Herr Giitke bears a striking contrast to our 
east coast reports. On that small island, so favourably situated 
for observation, Mr. Giitke has trained up quite a host of practical 
observers, and any rare visitant will have to be very sharp if it 
succeeds in escaping detection. Quoting from Mr. Gitke’s letter 
dated Dec. 22nd, we have, on Sept. 17th, Sylvia fuscata, though 
not got; Anthus Richardi on the 18th; A. cervinus on the 20th; 
Picus leuconotus on the 21st; then some days S.W. with rain and 
no birds; 26th, calm and clear, Emberiza pusilla; 27th, E.N.E., 
2B 
