250 Mr. W. Eagle Clarke—^ Month 
Just before the time named, however, the wind fell to a 
moderate breeze, but the heavy rain still continued. 
Almost immediately after the wind moderated, the birds 
appeared in numbers, and the scene from the gallery 
was very remarkable. The birds were flying around on 
all sides, and those illumined by the slowly revolving 
beams from the lantern had the appearance of brilliant 
glittering objects, while the rain shot past on either hand, 
as I stood on the lee side, like streams of silver beads. 
I was not a little disappointed to discover how extremely 
difficult it was to identify the birds seen under such novel 
and peculiar conditions. Even the conspicuous spots on the 
breasts of the Song-Thrushes as they flew in the beams 
towards the lantern were entirely efl"aced by the dazzling 
brilliancy of the light, and the smaller species had to be 
lifted from the lantern ere their identity could be ascer- 
tained; while the birds careering arouiid became mere 
apparitions on passing the rays into the semi-darkness 
beyond. A number of species undoubtedly escaped detec- 
tion ; but the following are known to have participated in 
the movement, those marked with an asterisk (on this and 
other occasions) having been either killed or captured : — 
Song-Thrushes, ^Redstarts, ^Sedge- Warblers, ^Pied Fly- 
catchers, * Yellow Wagtails, Turtle-Doves, Redshanks, and 
Curlews. The Song-Thrushes, Yellow Wagtails, and Turtle- 
Doves were most in evidence. 
The Turtle-Doves were a great puzzle ; for though they 
often approached the lantern, yet they recovered themselves 
sufiiciently to avoid striking it, and it was not until day- 
break, when one was observed resting on the top of 
Smeaton^s tower and another on the dome of the light- 
house, that the mysterious strangers stood revealed. The 
Yellow Wagtails captured included both adults and young. 
The birds which struck the lantern did so after travelling 
directly up the beams of light ; but a number of them flew 
high and passed over the dome. The emigrants came from 
the north and continued to arrive and pass on until 5 a.m., 
but before the appearance of dawn the movement ceased. 
This rush was evidently composed of departing British 
