298 REPORT— 1903. 



Summary of the Migrations of the Starling. — The various movements 

 of the Starling may be conveniently summarised as follows : 



1. In June, sometimes early in the month, the young of the first 

 broods of our native Starlings gather together and lead a roving life, 

 during which they visit the coast and elsewhere. 



2. Later in summer both old and young form flocks and wander 

 afield in search of food, and in the autumn many of these wanderers 

 seek winter quarters in the west and south of Great Britain and Ireland, 

 some numbers of the British birds emigrating to Ireland for that purpose. 



3. A portion of our native Starlings, especially those inhabiting the 

 more northern and elevated districts, quit our shores in the late summer 

 and early autumn to winter in South-Western Europe &c. Such birds 

 are essentially summer visitors to the British Isles. 



4. During the autumn (late September to early November) vast 

 numbers of Starlings arrive on the south-east coast of England from 

 Central Europe : many to winter in England and Ireland, others to 

 proceed, as birds of passage, to South-Western Europe for the cold 

 season. 



5. Later in the autumn (October and November) considerable numbers 

 of immigrants from Scandinavia arrive on our northern and north-eastern 

 shores, many of which winter in Great Britain and Ireland, while others 

 proceed on passage to winter in Southern Europe. 



6. During these autumnal movements Starlings sometimes overshoot 

 our western limits, and are observed far out in the Atlantic. 



7. On the advent of severe cold the would-be winter residents (chiefly 

 our Continental guests) fly to the southern and western districts (especi- 

 ally the coasts) of Great Biitain and Ireland, and in winters or periods of 

 exceptional severity many quit our isles for more southern asylums on 

 the Continent. 



8. In February the birds inhabiting the more northern and elevated 

 disti-icts in our isles begin to return to their summer quarters. 



9. The earliest days of spring, and even those preceding (February and 

 March), witness the return from their winter quarters in Southern Europe 

 of the Starlings which are summer visitors to the British Isles. 



10. About the same time the refugees which quitted our isles during 

 the winter return to our shores. 



11. Later (March and April) the birds of passage, which also wintered 

 in Southern Europe, arrive on the south coast to travel by way of our 

 shores to their breeding haunts in Central and North-Western Europe. 



12. Early in spring, too (mid-February and during March), the Central 

 European birds which have wintered with us depart eastwards for their 

 summer homes on the Continent. 



13. Later (in mid-March and during April) the Scandinavian birds 

 which have passed the winter in our islands take their departure for their 

 northern summer haunts. 



The Migrations of the Rook [Corvus frugilegus). 



The Rook is a summer visitor to North -Western Europe, and is 

 migratory to a considerable extent in the central portions of the 

 Continent. 



From both of these areas the bird seeks Great Britain in the autumn 

 as a winter retreat, departing in the spring. 



