1G8 



been quite small, but the migration was noted on both the east and west 

 coasts, viz., on the east side at the Kentish Knock Lt.-v. (45 miles E. 

 by N. from the mouth of the Thames) on the 2nd/3rd, 4th/5th and 

 7th/8th, at Spurn Head Lt. (Yorkshire) on the last-named night, and 

 at Coquet Island (Northumberland) on the 10th ; on the west side at 

 Chicken Rock Lt. (Isle of Man) on the 4th/5th, and at Bardsey Lt. 

 (Carnarvon) on the 5th/6th and on the two following nights. 



Early in February another similar movement occurred, being witnessed 

 at Spurn Head Lt. on the 6th/7th and on the following night, while 

 large numbers arrived on the S.E. coast of Suffolk in the early morning of 

 the 7th. In the middle of the month the first returning emigrants were 

 recorded at St. Catherine's Lt. (Isle of Wight). Large numbers arrived 

 on the 12th/13th between 4 a.m. and daylight, and on the two following 

 nights single birds were observed. 



During the first fortnight in March further arrivals on the south coast 

 took place at the Isle of Wight on the 6th/7th, lOth/llth and llth/12th, 

 the numbers being particularly large on the lOth/llth, when many 

 hundreds were also recorded at Dungeness Lt. The most extensive 

 movement, however, during March would appear to have been that 

 which took place on the west coast and which was recorded at all the 

 light-stations between the Isle of Man and the Bristol Channel. In one 

 or two instances the flocks were said to have been heading northwards, 

 and though there was not sufficient evidence to decide the point, it seems 

 most probable that this was the return of the winter-residents from 

 Ireland. Immense numbers of Starlings were on passage in this area on 

 every night from the 6th/6th to the 9th/10th,aswell as on the 12th/13th, 

 27th/28th, and on April the 2nd/3rd ; while smaller numbers were re- 

 corded on the llth/12th, 13th/14th, 14th/15th, 17th/18th,20th, 28th/29th 

 and 29th/30th. Altogether many thousands of Starlings must have 

 passed the southern end of the Isle of Man, which from the records would 

 seem to have been visited by the densest portion of the movement. 



Earlv in March the return migration across the North Sea began, 

 being first recorded at the Kentish Knock Lt.-v. on the 4th. On the 

 Gth a tired Starling flew on board H.M.S. ' Dido ' in the North Sea at 

 5 P.M., lat. 55° N., long. 2° 5' E., and during the two following nights 

 small numbers were noted on passage at the hglits off the Northumber- 

 land coast. On the lOth/llth large numbers passed the Kentish Knock 

 Lt.-v., and from then onwards throughout the month the movement was 

 continued in a desultory manner, being noted more or less at most of 

 the stations between the Tyne and the Thames. During the first half 

 of April the west-to-east movement continued, and the numbers appear 

 to have been greater than during March. The daylight passage of 

 flocks was noted in Suffolk between the 4th and the 12t]i, while the 

 nio-lit records included most of the light-stations between the Humber 

 jind the Thames. At the same time tliere was a renewal of the soutli 



