ON BIRD MIGRATION. 303 



arrived at Tearaght Island and at the Skelligs, off the coast of Kerry, 

 for several days, either in flocks or at intervals. 



Again in 1887, between October 21 and November 23, they appeared 

 at the same stations, also in numbers and direct from the Atlantic. 

 Similar movements were witnessed in 1888 and 1890, chiefly in November, 

 at Tearaght and at Slyne Head, Galway. 



In the middle of November 1893 (soon after the great movement 

 observed at Scilly), some 4,000 or 5,000 appeared in the Island of Lewis, 

 arriving in an exhausted state, and great numbers were washed ashore on 

 the west side of the island. ' It is worthy of remark that actual occupancy 

 of a new ' Rookery ' took place within the castle grounds of Stornoway, 

 Lewis, very shortly after this phenomenal invasion was first recorded in 

 The Field by Mr. Duncan Mackenzie. ' 



Sitmmary of the Migrations of the Book. — 1. Partial and irregular 

 movements on the part of young and old begin at the close of the nesting 

 season and continue throughout the autumn. , 



2. Vast numbers of Rooks from Central Europe arrive on the south- 

 east coast of England (coming from the east and south east) between the 

 latter half of September and the middle of November, to pass the winter 

 in the eastern counties of England. This is the main autumnal move- 

 ment. 



3. From the middle of October to the middle of November emi- 

 grants from Scandinavia arrive on our northern shores and remain to 

 winter in Great Britain. They are chiefly observed as immigrants in 

 Shetland and Orkney, and, on passage to their British retreats, on the 

 north-east and north-west coastlines. 



4. In severe winters some emigrate from the mainland of North 

 Britain and are observed in small numbers in the Western Isles (Lewis 

 &c.) 



5. Late in February, during March, and sometimes early in April 

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

 Continent, moving in a westerly and north-westerly direction during the 

 daytime. These are most probably returning British emigrants whose 

 departure in the autumn has escaped notice. 



6. Early in February and until mid-April the Rooks from Central 

 Europe which have wintered in England depart from the south-east coast 

 for their summer homes. This is the most important movement of the 

 spring. 



7. Throughout March and April the winter visitors to Britain from 

 Scandinavia are observed, chiefly at the Orkneys and Shetlands, returning 

 to their northern summer quarters. 



8. The Irish movements are chiefly of an irregular and unimportant 

 nature, and Ireland is not resorted to by the Continental visitors for 

 winter quarters. In October and November in some years arrivals have 

 been recorded on the south-east coast after passage across St. George's 

 Channel ; and there are occasional arrivals from Scotland at the islands 

 oflF the N.E. coast. In spring there is a regular return migration wit- 

 nessed on the S.E. coast between the latter half of March and the third 

 ■week of April ; implying an unobserved autumn emigration either of 



' D. Mackenzie, Tli^ Field, April 4, 1 894. 

 * Annals of Scot. Nat. Hist., pp. 149-150. 



