296 KEioRT— 1908 



attributable to the same cause and are performed under identical con- 

 ditions as those undertaken by the Song Thrush, Skylark, and Lapwing, 

 which have been fully treated in the summaries on these species, and the 

 subject generally in the ' Digest of Observations.' ' It is, therefore, only 

 necessary to touch somewhat briefly on these forced migrations of this bird. 



Although a species which is much afTected by severe weather, and 

 especially snow, inasmuch as its ordinary food then becomes difficult and 

 sometimes impossible to procure, yet many of our resident Starlings 

 remain in their accustomed haunts throughout periods of such extreme 

 severity that great numbers perish from hunger. Others, along with 

 species similarly affected, move to the coast, especially the west and 

 south-west coasts of England and Ireland. Ireland is also sought by 

 considerable numbers of emigrants, which arrive from the north-east and 

 east on the occasion of each great outburst of cold in Great Britain. But 

 even on the south-west coast of Ireland, where the climatic conditions 

 are more favourable than elsewhere within our area, great numbers 

 perish in severe seasons such as those of 1881 (January), 1882 (December), 

 and 1895 (January to March). Many, too, cross the English Channel 

 and proceed southwards in search of more genial haunts on the 

 Continent. 



I am of opinion that these migrants are chiefly composed of our 

 winter guests from the Continent, for careful observations made during 

 seasons of exceptional severity lead me to believe that most of our resi- 

 dent stock do not leave their usual haunts, and may be seen daily on the 

 approach of dusk proceeding in numbers to their usual winter roosts. 



Spring Jimnigration from South irn Europe and Passage to Northern 

 and Central Unrope. — The spring immigrations of the Starling relate to 

 the return of (1) British summer visitors and of (2) the birds of passage on 

 their way north and east from their accustomed winter quartei's in South- 

 Western Europe, and of (3) the I'efugees which have been forced to flee 

 our country through the pressure of winter conditions. 



The iirst Starlings to appear on the southern coastline of England are 

 probably those birds which quitted our sh.ores earliest in the autumn, 

 namely, the British summer visitors, which return to their breeding 

 haunts about the time that the first of the spring immigrants arrive on the 

 south coast, i.e. usually during the last week in February.- These return 

 movements continue at intervals during March and the early part 

 of April, the 12th being the latest date on which they have been 

 chronicled. The later migrants are, no doubt, birds of passage, which 

 after arrival proceed along both the east and west coasts (mainly the 

 former), en route for summer quarters in Northern and Central Europe. 



The immigrants appear on the south coast during the night and early 

 morning, and travel in company with (in addition to the species already 

 named) Eedwin^s, Ring Ousels, AVheatears, Redstarts, Blackcaps, Chilf 

 ChafTs, Willow Warblers, and Swallows.^ 



' Jiep. Brit. Axsoc, 1896, p. 473. 



'' Tlie tarliest record is for P'ebrnary 19, 1903, when great numbers passed the 

 Eddystone in flocks, cominji- from tlie S. and S.S.E. They commenced to arrive at 

 7 P.M., and the passage lasted, with breaks, until .5 A.M. Many were killed at the 

 lantern, and great numbers struck and fell over into tl e sea. The other species 

 participating in this great return movement were Mistle Thrushes, Song Thrushes, 

 Skylarks, Lapwings, and others. 



' On some occasions Starlings and other species (Skylarks, ' Black Crows,' Rooks, 

 Goldcretts, and AVild Ducks) have been recorded as arriving on the south-east coast 



