388 BEPORT — 1901. 



species using it, but probably the whole aggregate — sets in as early as the 

 middle of September, but more commonly about the fourth week of that 

 month. On reaching our coast the majority of the immigrants move 

 along it southward, and then westerly to the Land's End, some crossing 

 the Channel at various points to the French coast, while others seem to 

 continue westward or northward to Ireland, appearing on the coast of 

 Wexford at dates varying from the middle to the end of the month, but 

 having relation to those of their arrival on the east coast of England. A 

 considerable number of the Immigrants, however, on their arrival in 

 England proceed inland, and disperse over the eastern, southern, and mid- 

 land counties. It is in October, however, that this stream of immigra- 

 tion becomes phenomenal. It then has the coast of Suffolk for its centre, 

 with its right wing extending to the Humber, or even to or beyond the 

 Tees ; while the left, to some e.Ktent reinforced by birds of British origin, 

 sweeps along the south coast to Devon and Cornwall, and, as in September, 

 to Ireland. The winter visitants among these October immigrants pass 

 inland by several routes ; a good many proceed up the Thames and 

 Humber estuaries. Some idea of the magnitude of this influx may be 

 gathered from this table, showing the number of days during October 

 on which it was observed in each of the years : 



days 



1886. 23 days 

 1887.' 26 „ 



After October this Immigration falls off. The November movements vary 

 according to the weather, but are never of great moment after the first 

 few days of the month, when in most years they practically cease. In 

 November 1883 and 1886 no east-to-west movements were recorded. 



It is characteristic of this immigration that the passage across the 

 North Sea is invariably witnessed during the daytime, usually from dawn 

 to noon, but not unfrequently prolonged till 3 P.M., and the birds con- 

 cerned in it are actually crossing the line of flight taken by the home- 

 bred birds which are then emigrating ; a very remarkable Ijut not very 

 uncommon occurrence in October. Other species crossing the North Sea 

 at this time in company with the Skylarks are Starlings, Titlarks, 

 Chaffinches, Linnets, Blackbirds, and Rooks. 



3. Autumn Immigration from Northern Europe. — Great numbers of 

 Skylarks which summer in Scandinavia,- seek our shores in autumn, their 

 first arrival during the years 1880-87 being remarkably constant (October 

 4 to 8), when the birds appear in Shetland, Orkney, on the east coast 

 of Scotland and north-east coast of England, during the night or early in 

 the morning, in company with Thrushes, Redwings, Blackbirds, Ring- 

 ousels, Goldcrests, ChatTinches, Bramblings, and other species breeding in 

 the north. These arrivals continue, at intervals, during October, and 

 the Skylark participates largely in those remarkable movements which 

 cliaractei'ise the latter part of the month. These vast outpourings seem 

 to exhaust the emigration from Northern Europe, for it was only during 

 Lwo years (1883 and 1884) of the inquiry that considerable arrivals from 



' Many recorded on October 9, 20, 21, 23, and 27 ; vast numbers on October 16 

 to 18, again on 22, 25, and 26. 



- Professor CoUett says {Oversifft af Chrisiiania Omegns ornitkoloffisli/i Fauna, 

 p. 128) that Alaiida arvensis is seldom seen in the Christiania district after the 

 middle of October. 



