NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 399 



tion is visible, birds are observed to cross the same fields and at 

 the same angle. Supposing this course to be continued, they 

 would strike the Trent at or near Gainsborough. 



Much information has been obtained from the legs and wings 

 sent in the envelopes provided for that purpose ; and by this 

 means already several rare and unusual wanderers have been 

 recorded, not the least interesting being the occurrence of a small 

 Asiatic species, the Yellow -browed Warbler, at Sumburgh Head, 

 Shetland, on September 25th, and an immature example of the 

 American Red-winged Starling, at 3 a.m. on October 27th, at the 

 Nash Lighthouse, Bristol Channel. This station lies directly in 

 the track followed by migrants from England to Ireland. The 

 Black Eedstart was killed at the Nash Lighthouse on the night of 

 October 29th ; and another interesting occurrence was that of the 

 Green Woodpecker, seen on October 26th, with many other birds, 

 at sunrise, passing to the S.E. The Black Redstart was also 

 received from the Fastnet, Co. Cork, found dead on October 30th. 

 It is also recorded at four other stations on the south coast of 

 Ireland, where its regular occurrence in the winter on the 

 south and east coasts has now been fully established by this 

 inquiry. 



From the Irish coasts the rarities received were numerous, 

 including the second Irish specimen of the Wryneck from Arran 

 Island, Co. Galway, killed striking 2 a.m. on October 6th. From 

 Tearaght, Co. Kerry, a Pied Flycatcher was caught at the lantern, 

 September 21st, the species only having once before occurred in 

 Ireland — in April, 1875, The repeated occurrence of the Corn 

 Crake, several miles from shore — killed striking against lanterns 

 between 100 and 200 feet above sea-level — must satisfy the 

 sceptical that this well-known species can fly at a high level with 

 great power and velocity. The Water Rail, which seems so 

 unwilling to fly, was received from the Fastnet and Tuskar on 

 October 26th and 28th ; also from Spurn light-vessel, Nov. 1st, 

 one ; Llyn Wells light- vessel, Nov. 4th, two ; and Coquet Island 

 lighthouse, same date, one ; showing a widely-extended migratory 

 movement of this species during the last week in October and 

 early in November. 



The Great Spotted Woodpecker occurred in considerable 

 numbers in the eastern counties of Scotland about the middle of 

 October. Almost all the specimens examined were either old 



