AUTUMNAL MIGRATION OF BIRDS IN IRELAND. 17 



it meets the Slaney, and the latter eastward and joining the 

 Ovoca. Here then is a sort of great high road along which 

 a large part of the migrating birds bound for the south-west of 

 Ireland must pass, as they apparently avoid crossing mountains, 

 and prefer to follow low-lying districts and river basins. For 

 several years I have noticed in the months of October and 

 November the innumerable flocks of birds, principally Starlings, 

 Fieldfares, Redwings, Skylarks, and Golden Plover, which pass by 

 Shillelagh and its neighbourhood, flying towards south-west along 

 this valley or low-lying tract. Of these the most numerous, as 

 almost among the earliest, are the Starlings. Generally in the 

 beginning of October (the 3rd is the earliest I have noted) 

 the first Starling flight is seen ; and from that until near 

 the middle of November there is seldom a day that they are not 

 seen passing, always in the same direction, north-east to south- 

 west. Quiet, fine weather, with light easterly or northerly 

 breezes, seems most favourable for their migration ; and at such 

 times I have seen as many as twelve flocks of from fifty to some 

 hundred birds on an average passing over one field in the course 

 of the afternoon. They seem, however, to find no difficulty 

 in flying in the teeth of a gale. 



Wonderful is the speed with which these Starlings then 

 dash along, far exceeding the greatest powers of flight displayed 

 by them on other occasions. One hears the loud rush of their 

 wings, like the distant sound of a flooded torrent; the flock 

 sweeps by just over the tree tops, and in a moment is lost to 

 sight. I should say their speed often equals 100 miles an hour. 

 For some reason which I cannot explain, the flocks always appear 

 largest, most frequent, and their speed greatest, about four 

 o'clock in the afternoon. 



A few days after the commencement of the Starling migration, 

 Redwings generally begin to make their appearance. Their pas- 

 sage is never anything like so noticeable as that of the Starlings. 

 They fly in small and rather scattered parties near the ground, 

 passing leisurely on, apparently stopping to rest from time to 

 time. Redwings are never very common in the district, and only 

 at the periods of migration in autumn and spring are they seen in 

 any numbers. Fieldfares are seldom seen until at least three 

 weeks after the Redwings, and in their migratory habits differ 

 remarkably from them. Instead of flying near the ground, 



ZOOLOGIST.— JAN. 1888. c 



