ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 451 
Bird Migration in Great Britain and Ireland.—Report of the Com- 
mittee, consisting of Professor NEwTon (Chairman), Mr. JOHN 
CorpEaux (Secretary), Mr. Joun A. Harvie-Brown, Mr. R. M. 
Barrinetron, Mr. W. HaGue CuarKE, and Rey. EH. P. KNUBLEY, 
appointed for the purpose of making a Digest of the Observations on 
the Migrations of Birds at Lighthousesand Lightvessels, 1880-1887. 
Your Committee have at last the pleasure of reporting that the Digest 
which they were appointed to make of the observations on the Migration of 
Birds taken at Lighthouses and Lightvessels from 1880 to 1887 has been 
completed, and of presenting the same to the Association. 
As has been before stated at meetings of the Association, this Digest 
is the work of one of their number, and the remaining Members of the 
Committee have to record their deep sense of the obligation under which 
they lie to Mr. William Eagle Clarke, of the Science and Art Museum, 
Edinburgh, for the assiduity with which he has so long laboured on the 
enormous task he undertook, and to congratulate him on the success with 
which he has overcome the countless dithculties it presented. 
In these congratulations the Committee feel that they are entitled to 
ask the Association to join, as well as ornithologists of all countries. 
It cannot be doubted that henceforth, as regards the British Islands, 
there is now established a firm basis on which may rest a sound and 
proper conception of many of the phenomena of British migration, for 
this Digest contains a plain statement of ascertained facts, and is wholly 
free from theory or speculation of any kind. Thus it will be found to 
differ from almost everything that has hitherto been published on the 
subject, 
In saying this much your Committee would, however, guard them- 
selves from the inference that the business is exhausted—on the contrary, 
a very great deal more is yet to be learned from a further examination of 
the observations which have been collected at the Lighthouses and Light- 
ships, while the whole subject of inland migration is untouched. Whether 
it will be possible for the Committee to proceed further must entirely de- 
pend on the action of the Association ; but they may say that Mr. Clarke, 
so far from being deterred by the magnitude of the task with which he 
has so successfully grappled, is willing to work out the details of migra- 
tion for each of the species to which the observations refer, and has even 
already begun to do so; and it is to be hoped that he will receive some 
encouragement to continue such useful work. And the Committee may re- 
mark that the very considerable funds that private generosity has placed 
at their service are now exhausted. 
Though on the present occasion the thanks of the Committee are so 
certainly due to Mr. Clarke, they feel that, while presenting what may be 
their final Report, they must again acknowledge their indebtedness to all 
who have helped them in prosecuting their enquiries ; first, to the Master 
and Elder Brethren of the Trinity House, the Commissioners of Northern 
Lights, and the Commissioners of Irish Lights ; but more especially to the 
men of the several Lighthouses and Lightships, without whose cheerful! 
and intelligent co-operation nothing could have been done. 
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