THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 459 



Although migration — that is, direct migration — on our east 

 coast is shown to have extended over a long period, commencing 

 in Jul)' and continuing with but slight intermissions throughout 

 the autumn and into the next year to the end of January, yet the 

 main body of migrants appeared to have reached the east coast in 

 October, and of these a large proportion during the first fortnight 

 in the month. From the 6th to the 8th inclusive, and again from 

 the 12th to the 15th, there was night and day an enormous rush, 

 under circumstances of wind and weather which observations have 

 shown are most unfavourable to a good passage. During these 

 periods birds arrived in an exhausted condition, and we have 

 reasons for concluding, from the many reported as alighting on 

 fishing-smacks and vessels in the North Sea, that the loss of life 

 must have been very considerable. Large flights also are recorded 

 as having appeared round the lanterns of lighthouses and light- 

 vessels during the night migration. From the 6th to the 9th 

 inclusive strong east winds blew over the North Sea, with fog and 

 drizzling rain, and from the night of the 12th to 17th very similar 

 weather prevailed. Mr. W. Littlewood, of the Galloper lightship, 

 forty miles south-east of Orfordness, reports that on the night of 

 October the 6th Larks, Starlings, Tree Sparrows, Titmice, 

 Common Wrens, Redbreasts, Chaffinches, and Plovers were 

 picked up on the deck, and that it is calculated that from five to 

 six hundred struck the rigging and fell overboard ; a large 

 proportion of these were Larks. Thousands of birds were flying 

 round the lantern from 11.30 p.m. to 4.45 a.m., their white breasts, 

 as they dashed to and fro in the circle of light, having the appear- 

 ance of a heavy snowstorm. This was repeated on the 8th and 

 12th, and on the night of the 13th 160 were picked up on deck, 

 including Larks, Starlings, Thrushes, and two Redbreasts. It 

 was thought that 1000 struck and went overboard into the sea. 

 It is only on dark rainy nights, with snow or fog, that such 

 casualties occur ; when the nights are light, or any stars visible, 

 the birds give the lanterns a wide berth. 



Undoubtedly the principal feature of the autumn migration 

 has been the extraordinary abundance of the Gold-crested Wren. 

 The flights appear to have covered not only the east coast of 

 England, but to have extended southward to the Channel Islands 

 and northward to the Faroes (see Report, East Coast of Scotland). 

 On the east coast of England they are recorded at no less than 



