4.66 REPORT—1896. 
for much emigration is observed at southern stations during the hours of 
darkness. 
Spring Immigration.—The first bird-harbingers of spring are recorded 
for Frespruary, when during genial periods such partial migrants 
within the British area as the Pied Wagtail and Lapwing return to the 
Orkneys and other northern stations, where these species are summer 
birds. Certain rock-breeding sea-fowl are also noted as visitors to their 
nesting haunts. . 
There is in addition indication of a return movement during mild 
weather on the part of Fieldfares, Redwings, Thrushes, Blackbirds, &c., 
which had fled the country through the winter cold. During February 
certain summer visitors have occasionally put in a phenomenally early 
appearance. In 1885 and 1887 the Wheatear was seen ; in 1887 a Ring 
Ouzel was shot at one of the light-stations ; and in 1886 (on the 24th) 
a solitary Swallow was observed at the Eddystone. 
During the genial periods usually experienced in the changeable 
month of Marcu there is a considerable immigration or return of the 
birds which quitted our Islands through the pressure of the severe 
weather conditions of winter, and also of some partial migrants, including 
many Gold Crests and Pied Wagtails. In most years the advent of a few 
summer visitors is recorded. The Ring Ouzel, Wheatear, Whinchat, 
Willow Wren, Chiffchaff, Swallow, Sand Martin, Cuckoo,! Land Rail, 
Garganey, Whimbrel, and Sandwich Tern are recorded for the month, 
some of them once only, and others rarely. 
APRIL is a month of pronounced immigration on the part of the 
summer visitors, for no less than thirty-seven species are recorded in the 
chronicles. It thus witnesses the arrival of certainly the majority of 
species among the spring migrants, though, perhaps, not of individuals. 
There arrive, also, a number of migratory birds belonging to species 
which are either resident in, or winter visitors to, Britain, which have 
wintered to the south of us and now appear as summer birds, or as birds 
of passage on their way to the north. 
In connection with the arrival of these earliest immigrants among our 
summer visitors during March or April a remarkable and interesting fact 
remains to be mentioned—namely, that the great majority of these birds 
are recorded first for the south-western area of the British region—the 
south-west coast of England and Ireland. Thus in March, out of 
94 observations 71, or 75 per cent., were made in the south-west. In 
April, out of 157 first records of the arrivals of summer visitors, no less 
than 115, or nearly 74 per cent., are chronicled for the south-west coast 
and Ireland. These numbers and percentages, however, should be 
considerably higher and more remarkable, for it must be explained 
that during the years 1880 and 1881 there were no spring data for 
Ireland, and in 1883 there was no return made for the west coast of 
England, while the east coast has been credited, in the statistics quoted, 
with the observations made during all the years of the inquiry. It thus 
seems probable that the first arrival of the spring migrants not unnatu- 
rally occurs on those parts of our isles which are the warmest so early in 
the season. 
During May the immigration of summer birds still flows into our 
Islands. Several species make their first appearance, and a number of 
1 At Langness, Isle of Man, March 28, 1887. 
