OCCASIONAL NOTES. 101 
if thrown up in the air, they will immediately return on board. Gulls 
occasionally come in contact with the lamps, but it is by no means common 
for any species, except the Skua Gull, to be taken in that manner. I was 
informed by the mate of the ‘ Newarp’ that he had once found as many as 
three Skuas on deck during his watch, one of which, a large brown-coloured 
bird (probably the Great Skua) that he mistook in the dark for a fowl, as-it was 
lying disabled in a corner, inflicted a most severe bite on his hand. From 
all I could learn, the species usually taken were either immature Pomarine 
or Arctic Skuas. Hawks and Owls are sometimes captured on board, but they 
are mostly observed before dawn, perched on some part of the rigging near the 
lamps. On one occasion the glass of the lights of the ‘ Newarp’ was found 
broken, and a duck of some kind, that the crew were unacquainted with, 
was discovered inside the lantern. Grey Geese, Mallard, and various sorts 
of wild fowl, used now and then to be obtained, but from all I could hear 
the numbers of these birds have diminished greatly of late years. Snipe 
were stated to be among the commonest captures, but during the whole of 
the winter I only received a single specimen of this species. Woodcocks 
are supposed by the light-keepers to be particularly swift-flying birds, as 
they are generally picked up on deck, much cut and injured by striking 
against the lamps or rigging. The real cause of such mishaps must, I 
should imagine, be attributed to the weighty condition of the bird at the 
time of the accident. I found that the Knot was well known as being of 
frequent occurrence. They were described as flying in large bodies, and 
‘numbers falling at once on deck, One of the men declared that the last 
flocks of these waders that he had observed had suddenly shied when close 
to the lantern, and that but one or two had been taken. It is stated that 
many years ago over one thousand birds were one morning collected on 
board the ‘ Newarp. Whether this was really the case or not, I do not 
pretend to say, but all my information agreed in the fact that there was 
every year a great falling off in the number of birds so taken. I afterwards 
learned from an old man, who declared he was on board at the time, that 
the above statement was perfectly true. He also added that six hundred of 
the birds, which were principally Larks, were put into one gigantic pie. 
I have a slight recollection of seeing an account of this fact in some paper, 
which published the history of the light-ships of the eastern coast. A fall 
of snow, and a cold wind from the north-west, is certain to bring enormous 
flights of Larks and other birds along the south-coast ; all appear intent on 
making their way from east to west, occasionally passing in continued 
streams from daylight till dark. The Larks are usually the first birds 
to show, a slight covering of snow being sufficient to move them, while it 
requires a few days’ continuance of severe weather before Fieldfares, 
Redwings, and Blackbirds appear in any numbers. At such times the 
whole of the bird-catching fraternity of Brighton are engaged in the work 
