ON THE AUTUMN MIGRATION OF BIRDS IN 1878. 45 
I noticed gatherings, numbering sometimes hundreds, of Tree 
Sparrows during the last half of October. On the outbreak of 
the severe weather in December many came into the farm and 
stack-yards, concerting with Passer domesticus, with whom they 
appear to live on the best of terms. 
As usual, immense numbers of Starlings have come in during 
the autumn; on the 17th, 18th and 19th of October, at Whitby 
(High Lights), wind 8.E., all day passing the Lighthouse. 
The Corvide appear to increase every year; they belong to a 
race that is evidently able to increase and prosper, at the expense, 
too, of the least-favoured and protected races. Mr. Giitke, in a 
recent letter, speaking of Corvus cornia, says, ‘“‘ Of the legions that 
pass over in October and November, you can form not a shade of 
an idea of their numbers, and considering that all these ugly 
brutes have been feeding on the plunder of all the poor little birds’ 
nests, it is not to be wondered at that these latter decrease, but 
rather a miracle that any survived. * * * With all my heart 
I wish that your gamekeepers might succeed in strichnining nine- 
tenths of them.” * 
On November 7th I noted Daws in small parties, and Rooks— 
eight to ten and twenty—coming in, flying from N.E. to S.W. 
This continued from 10.30 a.m. to 1 p.M.; on the morning of the 
9th, also, Rooks still coming in from the sea. At Flamborough, 
on October 20th, ‘ Rooks, Jackdaws, and some Dun Crows flying 
towards south all day; 8S.S.E., overcast and misty.” Corvus 
cornix, during the last half of October and in November, is noted 
at various stations. The Starling, Hooded Crow, Rook and Daw 
are each year steadily increasing as immigrants from the north. 
A Great Spotted Woodpecker was shot near Withernsea about 
October 29th. Kingfishers have been very common in our marshes 
after August. A Fern Owl, a female, was shot near Easington 
on October 23rd; the stomach was filled with small Coleoptera. 
Immense flocks of Wood Pigeons appeared in November in North 
Lincolnshire, visiting by thousands the turnip-fields and the young 
clover plants. Wood Pigeons, I have observed, invariably fly very 
high when migrating. ; 
Before the outbreak of the severe weather, commencing with 
December 8th, enormous flocks of Golden Plover and Lapwing 
* I quite agree with Mr. Gitke’s remarks, but would extend the remedy to the 
whole race of egg-sucking Corvide. 
