366 REPORT — 1901. 



northerly situation, are not suited for winter residence, and to those 

 the Skylark is merely a Summer Visitor, as it is to nearly the whole of 

 Northern and a great part of Central Europe, departing after the 

 breeding season to its accustomed winter quarters. During its journeyings 

 to the south and west in the fall of the year, and again on its return in 

 spring, the Skylark appears in vast numbers on our coasts as a Bird of 

 Passage, while, owing to their intermediate geographical position and 

 their milder climate, the British Islands are much resorted to by the 

 Continental Skylark as a Winter Visitant.^ 



The various migrations of the species may be conveniently separated 

 and arranged as follows, beginning with the autumnal movements ; and 

 when it is considered that several of these movements are often simul- 

 taneously in progress, some idea of their complexity and the extreme 

 difficulty of their interpretation may be realised : — 



1. Autumn Emigration of Summer Visitants, with their offspring, 

 i.e., home-breeding and home-bred birds. 



2. Autumn Immigration of Winter Visitants from Central Europe. 



3. Autumn Immigration of Winter Visitants from Northern Europe. 



4. Autumn Passage from Central to Southern Europe along the British 

 coast. 



5. Autumn Passage from Northern to Southern Europe along the 

 British coast. 



6. Winter Emigration from, and Partial Migration within, the 

 British Islands. 



7. Spring Immigration of Summer Visitants, and return of Winter 

 Emigrants. 



8. Spring Emigration to Central Europe from the British Isles. 



9. Spring Emigration to Northern Europe from the British Isles. 



10. Spring Passage from Southern to Central and Northern Europe 

 along the British coast. 



-"o 



But even this is not all, for the movements which take place between 

 Great Britain and Ireland, as well as between Great Britain and the 

 Hebrides and Northern Islands, have also to be considered. 



1. Autumn Emigration of IIom,e-bred Birds. — Towards the close of 

 the nesting season an increased number of Skylarks is observable in the 

 lowlands, pai'ticularly near the coast ; a fact due, no doubt, to migra- 

 tion from the higher grounds, to which the species is only a summer 

 visitor. So early as July in some years there are a few records from the 

 Light-stations showing that departure has already commenced, but these 

 early Sittings must be regarded as exceptional.''^ During August there 

 are usually a few signs of emigration, and towards the end of that month 

 there is evidence that it has fully set in. These late August movements 



' No unfailing- distinction between British and foreign Skj'larkshas hitherto been 

 recognised by ornithologists generally. In attempting to draw one here, the writer 

 has chiefly relied upon what can, with more or less probability, be presumed as to 

 the origin of the particular flocks from connecting the different observations of them 

 whereby their course may be traced. 



- The most remarkable instance of this kind occurred on the night of July 25, 

 1881, when a ereat number of Skylarks appeared at the Leman and Ower Lightship, 

 ofE the Norfolk coast, and sixti/ were killed by striking the lantern, and at the same 

 time Jifty were killed at the Dudgeon, a neighboiiring Lightship. The weather waa 

 wet, changeable, and cold for the time of year. 



