ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 267 



to migrants among the waders and ducks and geese, which, as a rule, 

 closely follow coast lines, and which are abundantly represented on the 

 Solway and coasts of Cumberland and Lancashire. There is a much 

 used bird route along the north coast of the Bristol Channel, and thence, 

 from the Pembroke coast, across to Wexford, passing the Tuskar Rock, 

 the best Irish station. 



The fact of a double migration or passage of birds, identical in species, 

 across the North Sea in the spring and autumn both towards the E. and 

 S.E. and to the W. and N.W., is again very clearly shown in the present 

 report. This phenomenon of a cross migration to and from the Continent, 

 proceeding at one and the same time, is regularly recorded on the whole 

 of the east coast of England, but is specially observable at those light- 

 vessels which are stationed in the south-east district ; at the same time, it 

 is invariably persistent and regular year by year. 



Our most interesting stations are those on small islands or rocks, or 

 lightvessels at a considerable distance from shore, and the regular occur- 

 rence of so many land birds, apparently of weak power of flight, around 

 these lanterns is a matter of surprise to those unacquainted with the 

 facts of migration. No clear indication of the migration of the Redbreast 

 has yet been shown on the Irish coast ; the records of its occurrences are 

 few and scattered. The Black Redstart was recorded at several stations 

 in the southern half of Ireland ; specimens were forwarded from Mine Head, 

 The Skelligs, and Rockabill. It is apparently a regular winter visitant to ■ 

 The Skelligs and Tearaght, generally appeai-ing in October and Novem- 

 ber. The occurrences so far recorded by the Committee of the Black 

 Redstart on the east coast of Great Britain, in the autumn, range between 

 October 23 and November 3. 



In the spring of the present year Mr. G. Hunt, under date of March 

 20, reports an extraordinary flight of Rooks at Somerton, on the Norfolk 

 coast, which he observed from IU.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. He says : ' I observed 

 them flying just above the sand-hills, going due south, and as far as the 

 eye could see both before and behind there was nothing but Rooks. There 

 could never for one moment of the day be less than a thousand in sight 

 at one time ; they kept in a thin wavering line. The coast line here runs 

 due north and south.' Mr. J. H. Gurney reports : ' I saw the Rooks 

 and Grey Crows on the same day in much smaller numbers as were seen 

 at Somerton, which is fifteen miles further south. I again saw them on 

 the 2l3t, 22nd, 25th, 26th, and 29th, but none after this date ; with ns, 

 however. Grey Crows preponderated : the direction was to S.E. An 

 enormous migration of these and many others is recoi'ded from Heligoland, 

 also from Hanover between March 19 and 25.' 



In conclusion your Committee wish to thank H.R.H. the Master and 

 the Elder Brethren of the Trinity House, the Commissioners of Northern 

 Lights, and the Commissioners of Irish Lights for their ready co-opera- 

 tion and assistance, through their intelligent oflicers and men, in this 

 inquiry. 



The Committee respectfully request their reappointment. 



