ON liIRD MIGKATION. 297 



Starlings have been noted as spring imnr>igrants on the south-east 

 coast of Ireland at dates ranging from the third week of February to 

 mid-April. This indicates a return of Starlings which have either quitted 

 Ireland for the winter, or of birds of passage on their way north, or, 

 again, most probably of both, for the dates are wide-ranging, sufficiently 

 so to cover both the return of native birds and the movements of birds of 

 passage. Dui'ing the later dates, these Irish immigrants are sometimes 

 accompanied by various summer visitors and birds of passage — Wheat- 

 ears, Ring Ousels, Redwings, &c. Similar movements at the Hebrides 

 are recorded as late as April 14. 



Spring Emigration to Central Europe. — The spring emigration from 

 the coast of south-east England eastwards across the southern part of the 

 North Sea of the Starlings which are returning to summer quarters in 

 Central Europe, after wintering in the British Isles and in South-Western 

 Europe (the latter being birds of passage), is very little in evidence as 

 compared with the great immigratory movements on the part of these 

 same birds during the autumn. 



It comes under observation, however, at the great fleet of lightships 

 stationed between the Wash and the mouth of the Thames, and takes 

 place between the middle of February and the end of March. There are 

 no April movements chronicled, nor have other species been recorded as 

 emigrating in their company. The observations on these return move- 

 ments relate to the daytime only. 



Sjrring Emigration to North- Western Europe. — The return movements 

 to their summer haunts in Scandinavia of those Starlings which have 

 Avintered in the British Isles, or have traversed our shores on their way 

 from winter quarters in South-Western Europe, do not, as is the case 

 with all emigratory movements, find a very marked place in the records. 

 They are performed at night, and under favourable weather conditions, 

 between mid-March and the end of April,' and are observed chiefly 

 at stations on the north-east coast of Great Britain and at the Orkneys 

 and Shetlands, the other birds noted as emigrating at the same time 

 being Skylarks, Blackbirds, Lapwings, and Goldcrests. 



The latest record was chronicled at the Isle of May on April 28, 

 1886, when at 10 pm. Starlings appeared during a 'rush' of migrants 

 (Wheatears, Redstarts, Whitethroats, Arc.) 



The Starlings which winter in Ireland begin to emigrate about the 

 middle of February, and in some seasons the movements are in progress 

 until the middle or end of March. "-' Those wintering in western Britain 

 and certain of the Hebridean Islands (such as Tiree), leave at dates 

 ranging from the middle of February to the end of March. 



of England in the spring (see llcport, 188.3, p. 57). In the /voloriist for 1870 

 (p. 2140) it is recorded from Aldeburgli tliat during the second week of March 

 immense numbers of Rooks and Starlings were almost constantly arriving ' from 

 over the sea.' In the same Journal for 1902 (p. 87) Mr. Gurney >tates that on 

 March 2.3, 1901, some w'ere picked up dead on the beach at Yarmouth, along with 

 Books, ' which had lost their lives in crossing.' This last record may, however, 

 refer to spring emigration, the disaster occurring after departure from our shores. 

 Similar but more regularly recorded movements are performed by the Kook. to 

 which reference may be made. 



' Professor Collett informs me that Starlings arrive singly in southern Norway 

 about the middle of March, and in flocks at the beginning of April. 



* On March 26, 1887, the Starlings and Thrushes wintering on Tearaght left the 

 island. On April 14, 1885, thirty, probiibly on passage north, struck the lantern at 

 Copeland Island. 



