188 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
8.S.E. to N.N.W. If subsequent observations should prove the 
correctness of this rule, it will go far to account for all the 
irregularities of migration—the “why” birds are seen in great 
numbers in one year in any locality, and perhaps absent altogether 
in following seasons. 
Subsequent to the writing of this report I have received 
several communications showing a large and very remarkable 
influx of immigrants on to the east coast of England in January 
and the first fortnight in February, 1880. On Jan. 24th great 
numbers of Fieldfares were seen near Spurn Point, between 
Kasington and Kilnsea, and since this date they are reported as 
very numerous in the locality; with the Fieldfares came many 
fine old cock Blackbirds. In North-East Lincolnshire, also, during 
the last fortnight in January I saw many very large flocks of 
Fieldfares, apparently entirely composed of old birds; before this 
time scarcely any had been seen. Mr. Giitke writes from Heligo- 
land :—‘* T. pilaris all January, through night from 10th to 11th, 
great many; also Oystercatchers and other waders coming from 
the EK; also from 21st to 24th, the same.” These dates agree 
very well with the time of their arrival on our east coast. Short- 
eared Owls arrived in some numbers at Spurn in the last week in 
January. A very large flock of Snow Buntings was seen on the 
8th February. On the Lincolnshire side I noticed an immense 
flock of the same species, fresh arrivals, on the 5th; and on the 
11th thousands, also hundreds of Larks. This final and third 
“rush” of immigrants so late in the winter is curious, and may 
perhaps be explained by the comparatively milder winter over 
Northern Europe, compared with what we have experienced in 
the central and southern zones of Europe. We have indeed a 
recent precedent for this in the winter of 1877-78, when, after 
a long continuance of mild weather in Scandinavia, a sharp and 
sudden outburst of real winter drove the Fieldfares, as Mr. Giitke 
says, over Heligoland, on the night from the 27th to 28th January, 
in “countless flights.” 
