ON BIRD MIGRATIOX. 295 



Like other visitors from the north, these immigrant Starlings appear 

 on our shores during the late hours of the night and early hours of the 

 morning ; the other species arriving in company simultaneously bein" 

 Redwings, Fieldfares, Song-Thrushes, Blackbirds, Ring Ousels, Wheatears^ 

 Hedge Sparrows, Redbreasts, Wrens, Goldcrests, Redstarts, Bramblings, 

 Siskins, Chaffinches, Larks, Short-eared Owls, Snipes, and Woodcocks. 



These autumnal immigrations from the north-west are followed by 

 overland movements westwards and southwards in search of winter quar- 

 ters within the British area ; the western, southern, and south-western 

 districts of England, the Hebrides and other western isles, and Ireland 

 affording specially favoured haunts. Ireland is entered from the north 

 and north east ; the birds travelling by way of the Hebrides and the west 

 coast of Scotland, or (after an overland flight across Northern Britain) 

 from the Galloway coast. 



Aultunn Passage from Northp.rn and Central to Southern Europe. — 

 Vast numbers of the Starlings which arrive on our shores in the autumn 

 from both Northern and Central Europe do not remain to winter with us, 

 but proceed on passage to retreats in South- Westeim Europe. 



These passage movements follow (probably at once in the case of the 

 majority of the migrants) the arrivals from the Continent, and are in 

 progress from the latter half of September (ou the part of the Central 

 Europeaa birds) until the third week of November. The course of the 

 birds from the east (Central Europe) has already been traced along the 

 south coast of England and across the Channel. The birds of passao-e of 

 northern origin proceed southwards down both the east and west coastlines 

 (including the Hebrides), but more especially the former, and finally 

 depart as emigrants,^ crossing the Channel at various points between 

 Kent and Scilly. 



Some idea of the magnitude of these movements may be gathered 

 from the fact that on the night of October 12 and the early morning 

 of October 13, 1901, vast numbers of Starlings, evidently of Continental 

 origin, passed the Eddystone, going southwards for ten hours and a half 

 ■without a break. Sixty-seven perished at the lantern, and great numbers, 

 after striking, fell over into the sea and were drowned. ^ Some of these 

 autumnal visitors belong to a race which is characterised by having a 

 purple head and throat and green ear-coverts. This form occurs on our 

 south-eastern and southern coasts, and as I have failed to match them 

 with British and Scandinavian specimens obtained at the same season, I 

 think it is probable that these birds come to us from the east. 



During the autumnal migratory movements Starlings sometimes con- 

 siderably overshoot our western limits, and are observed far out in the 

 Atlantic. At the end of October 1870 a large flock was encountered 

 300 miles west of Scilly,^ and on October 23, 1876, one alighted on 

 H.M.S. Alert between Capes Farewell and Clear, when 517 miles from 

 the latter.'' At Eagle Island, oft" Mayo, on October 31 and November 1, 

 1886, several thousands are said to have passed westwards over the 

 Atlantic. 



Winter Movements. — The winter movements of the Starling are 



*& 



' It is possible that some of our British Starhngs may also participate in these 

 emigrations by joining the ranks of the Continental birds and departing with them 

 for the south. 



* Ihls, 1902, pp. 2.)2-255. » Rodd, Birds of Cornwall, p. 292. 



* Feilden, Zoohyjint, 1877, p. 469. 



