ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 689 
The usual course taken by birds seems to be either N.W. or S.E. 
The number of birds which only occur singly and do not seem to migrate 
in flocks is large. In such instances it is difficult to trace the line of 
_ migration. 
The occurrences now noted of the Greenland falcon properly belong 
to the same flight that has already been noticed in last year’s report. 
; As might be expected, the snow bunting is of more frequent occur- 
_ rence on the western and northern coasts. A few remained as late as the 
first week in May, and it was again seen early in September, dates which 
have not hitherto been recorded in Ireland. Geese were also more 
numerous on the north and west coasts. 
A remarkable migration of the rook was observed at the Tearaght 
‘and Skelligs, both stations being several miles off the coast of Kerry. It 
lasted for three weeks, from November 2 to 20, the direction of flight 
‘being from west to east. The light-keepers were puzzled to know whence 
the birds could have come, the nearest land to the west being America, in 
which this species is not found. 
Mr. Giatke’s Heligoland notes, from June 28 to the end of the year, 
__-comprise 118 species, including, as usual, several rare visitors to the 
ornithological observatory :—Icterine Warblers on Aug. 18; <Anthus 
_ richardi, Sept. 3 to Oct. 12: A. campestris, Sept.4; Carpodacus erythrinus, 
H Sept. 9; Anthus cervinus, a great many, from Sept. 15 to Oct. 12; Lanius 
: major, in most unusual numbers, from. Sept. 17 to Nov. 4; Alauda 
cristata, Sept. 30 and Oct. 1; Sawicola stapazina (?), Oct. 2; Turdus 
varius, Oct. 3, 12, and 23, one each day: Bmberiza pusilla, Oct. 5, two; 
 Turdus migratorius, one on Oct. 14; Fringilla rufescens, our English red- 
_ poll, one on Noy. 22. Besides these large numbers of continental species, 
__ which are classed amongst the rare and occasional visitants to the British 
Islands, and whose line of migration is normally far to eastward of these 
‘ ‘islands, as Hmberiza hortulana, Motacilla flava, M. alba, Cyanecula suecica, 
_ Anthus rupestris, Plectrophanes lapponicus, Otocorys alpestris, Nyctala 
tengmalmi, Ruticilla titys, Regulus ignicapillus, and Larus minutus. 
The great rush of birds crossed Heligoland during the last fortnight 
‘in October, and appears to have come directly across to our eastern 
‘shores. Mr. Giitke remarks, under date Oct. 24, S.E., clear, fine, early 
‘rather cold, C. corniz, C. frugilegus, and C. monedula, ‘monstrous 
numbers ;’’ corniz and monedula mixed in uninterrupted flights of ten and 
‘twelve minates each, continued with but short interruptions or gaps; 
_ width as far as the eye could reach in northerly and southerly directions ; 
-and thus from 9 a.m. till 1 p.m. Stwrnus, ‘a succession of clouds sweeping 
_ past overhead.’ 
The Committee have again to thank Professor Chr. Fr. Liitken, of 
Copenhagen, for a list of the birds killed against the lighthouse of Stevns, 
on the projecting part of Zealand, marking the limit between the Baltic 
and Oresund. 
___Inconclusion your Committee would take the opportunity of thanking 
the Master and Elder Brethren of the Trinity House, the Commissioners 
-of Northern Lights, and the Commissioners of Irish Lights for their 
“ready co-operation and assistance, through their intelligent officers and 
-men, in the inquiry. 
The Committee respectfully request their reappointment. 
ae 
