468 REPORT—1896. 
The mild spells of Aprit induce a considerable amount of emigra- 
tion, for their northern summer haunts, on the part of no less than 
thirty-four species. These comprise fifteen Passeres, two Birds of Prey, 
nine Ducks and Geese, six Waders, one Skua, and one Diver, all of 
them belonging to species which have wintered in our Islands, or off our 
shores. The emigration to the Continent by the ‘ East and West Route’ 
across the North Sea also proceeds during April, the species observed 
departing during the month being the Rook, the Hooded Crow, and the 
Tree Sparrow. No migratory movements, however, are recorded for this 
route after this month. 
May is a month of much emigration on the part both of birds which 
have wintered in our Islands, and of birds of passage (including many 
individuals of species which are summer visitors to Britain). In all, no 
less than fifty-three species of regular emigrants are recorded in the May 
returns, showing that the movements to the northern breeding grounds 
reach their maximum during this month, and often take the form of 
‘rushes’ after the birds have been held back by spells of ungenial weather. 
The northward movements from our shores of a few species, whose breed- 
ing range lies within the Polar regions, are also observed down to the 
middle of Junr, or even beyond that date, and have already been noticed. 
The departure for their northern summer quarters of the spring birds 
of passage and of the winter visitors to Britain takes place from our 
eastern coasts and the northern isles ; a few only of the species, such as 
the Redwing, Wheatear, White Wagtail, Barnacle Goose, Swans, Whim- 
bre], &ec., passing up our western coasts, possibly en rowte for Iceland. 
METEOROLOGICAL. 
Special attention has been bestowed upon this section of the Digest, 
since the actual relationships between migrational and meteorological 
phenomena have not hitherto, received the attention they deserve, no 
doubt because the necessary sets of data for a satisfactory investigation 
of the problem were not obtainable. The material collected by the Com- 
mittee has proved in all respects most valuable for establishing a useful 
comparison between these two sets of phenomena, and for determining, to 
a certain extent, the precise influence exercised by the weather upon 
bird movements. The standard for the weather has been the ‘ Daily 
Weather Reports’ issued by the Meteorological Office. For the loan of a 
complete set of these valuable official records for the eight years of the 
inquiry, I am indebted to the Council of the Leeds Philosophical and 
Literary Society, through its esteemed Hon. Secretary, Richard Reynolds, 
Ksq., an obligation I here desire to fully acknowledge. 
It may be well to state that these ‘Daily Reports’ are based upon 
observations made at fifty-four stations, distributed over Western 
Europe between Haparanda and Bodé in the North, and Toulon, 
Biarritz, and Corunna in the South ; as well as all parts of Great Britain 
and Ireland. 
When studying bird migration in connection with meteorological con- 
ditions, it is essential that the weather peculiarities synchronous with the 
setting in of the emigration, and prevailing in the particular area in 
which the movement had its origin, should be considered. This alone 
has any true bearing upon emigration ; not the weather prevailing upon 
the shores reached after an extended migratory flight. Thus the conti- 
nental weather conditions must be consulted in connection with the 
