29:i REPORT— 1903. 



a well-known and familiar bird are due to a number of causes — among 

 others, to its gregarious and desultory nature, the varying degree of its 

 migratory instincts in different parts of tlie British area, its dependence 

 upon supplies of food which not only change with the season but from 

 year to year, and to the fact that it is double-brooded ; peculiarities which 

 result in innumerable movements, many of them of a partial or wholly 

 irregular nature. 



In addition to these, there are the regular migrations performed by 

 the Starling (1) as a migratory species in Britain ; (2) as a winter visitor 

 to our isles from Northern and Central Europe ; (3) as a bird of double 

 passage, traversing our shores when en roiUe between Continental summer 

 Quarters and winter retreats ; and, finally (4) there are winter movements — 

 partial migrations within the British area and emigrations to the Con- 

 tinent—dependent upon and varying with the severity of the season. 



The data amassed relating to these numerous irregular and regular 

 movements are extraordinarily voluminous, and their study has presented 

 problems for solution of an exceptionally complex nature — more so than 

 those appertaining to any other species hitherto treated. 



As a resident species the Starling is widely distributed over our islands, 

 its range extending from the Shetland and other northern isles ^ south- 

 ward to the English Channel. In many of the northern and in the more 

 elevated portions of the mainland of Britain the bird is migratory, being 

 entirely or partially absent during the autumn and winter months.^ 



This variability in the migratory habit is also manifest in many dis- 

 tricts of England. It may in most cases depend upon the distribution 

 of food-supplies ; but this does not explain all, for there are certain 

 counties in south-western England (Cornwall and Devon) in which the 

 Starling has only recently become a breeding species, and is still chiefly a 

 winter visitor. 



In Ireland the peculiarities in seasonal distribution of native Starlings 

 are very similar, and the species is mainly a winter visitor to the south and 

 west. An interesting and important fact is that in Ireland winter visitors 

 from Great Britain and the Continent far outnumber the Ii-ish birds. 



Summer and Autumn Movements of British Starlings. — These take the 

 form of (1) local migrations within the British area, and (2) of emigrations 

 of native birds to winter quarters beyond our shores. 



1. Local Migrations. — These begin in the early summer; indeed, as 

 soon as the young, especially those of the broods first cast off, are able to 

 shift for themselves. Sometimes as early as the first week in June parties 

 composed of youngsters begin their wanderings ; but it is usually about 

 the middle of the month that such flocks are commonly observed. Even 

 thus early the maritime districts, the light stations, and islands lying off 

 the coast are sometimes visited. 



Later in the summer both old and young gather together and form 

 large flocks. Movements of a more definite nature are then undertaken, 

 at first probably in search of fi-esh feeding-grounds, and finally for winter 

 homes. 



The coast with its vicinity is largely visited, especially the southern 

 and western seaboards ; and when summer is past the Hebrides and other 



' la North Ronaldshay, one of the outermost and exposed of the Orkneys, only a 

 few remain for the winter. 



= At Halmyre, a moderately elevated district, in Peeblesshire, about 75 per cent, 

 leave (Laidlaw). At Pitlochry, in Perthshire, all depart (Macpherson). 



