148 BEPOET— 1888. 



the year has arrived birds cross the North Sea independent of weather. 

 There can, however, be no doubt that the prevailing wind at the time of 

 crossing is an important factor in governing the direction in which 

 migrants travel, and the angle at which the line of flight will intersect 

 the coast. To changes of temperature, either sudden or more gradual, 

 rather than the force and direction of winds, we must probably look for 

 the impelling cause of these seasonal phenomena. After the 3rd and to 

 the 19th of November birds continued to arrive, but in greatly reduced 

 numbers, the throbs and pulsations of the great inrush becoming daily 

 more feeble and less sustained. 



On the west coast of England migration, although considerable in 

 October, was more strongly pronounced in November, particularly from 

 the 7th to the 19th. On the afternoon of the 11th an anti-cyclonic period 

 commenced, and prevailed, with little break, until the 17th. And there 

 were important general movements on the 11th, 13th, and 14th, and on 

 the 17th and 18th at south-west stations. 



The entries in the schedules show that swans and geese have been 

 remarkably scarce, brent geese fairly numerous — ducks of various species 

 have occurred in unusually large numbers in all favourable localities. 

 The common scoter in enormous flocks, also several velvet scoters, and 

 very considerable numbers of the long-tailed duck have visited the coast 

 between the Farn Islands and Yarmouth. A bearded reedling {Panurusr 

 iiarmicus) was seen at the Languard L. H. on February 16, at 7.40 a.m., 

 and at Yarmouth on November 13 many are said to have come in at a 

 great height from the east. 



Amongst the rare and more interesting wanderers to our shores we 

 may notice the occurrences of Temminck's stint at the Spurn and the 

 eared-grebe at the same place, Richard's pipit on the Lincolnshire coast, 

 the Alpine swift, avosets, and the pectoral sandpiper of America neai' 

 Yarmouth, also an osprey obtained at the Cromer Lighthouse. The 

 isabelline wheatear, a spring visitor from the south to south-eastern 

 Russia, was shot at Allonby, Cumberland, on November 11. 



From the Irish coasts the schedules received from the light-keepers 

 in 1887 were perhaps the best and most carefully filled of any year so far. 

 They number about 70 besides many letters inquiring the names of par- 

 ticular species or remarking on special movements of birds. These have 

 been furnished by about 30 stations situated all round the Irish coast. 

 Over 150 legs and wings and specimens in the flesh have been received, 

 being a larger number than on any previous occasion. This is satisfac- 

 tory because the species can be ascertained with certainty. 



Two birds have been added to the Irish list, i.e., the Lapland! 

 bunting and the red-breasted flycatcher. The former was found dead 

 at the Fastnet Rock Lighthouse, October 16 ; the latter was killed 

 striking the Arklow South Light-ship on October 23. Both speci- 

 mens were forwarded in the flesh. A magnificent old male Falco can- 

 dicans was shot by the light-keeper on the Great Skelly Rock, co. 

 Kerry, on September 28. This bird is occasionally met with on the 

 west coast of Ireland at light-stations, and the inquiry has shown thafc 

 it occurs more frequently than was formerly supposed. 



Among other rarities received may be mentioned a redstart from the 

 Fastnet (a rare species in Ireland), killed October 6 ; a woodlark and 

 spotted crake from the Tearaght Rock, co. Kerry, also killed in October ; 

 and a hoopoe from Eagle Island, off Mayo (April 12) 



