on the Eddystone. 255 
as yet, an unknown tongue to most of us. Nor was it an 
easy matter to promptly assign a familiar note to its rightful 
throat when heard under such highly peculiar conditions, 
and to an accompaniment supplied by the roar of the surf 
on the surrounding reefs. 
It was interesting to note the varying degree in which the 
mesmeric influence of the light was exercised over the diff"erent 
species. The Starling was the most susceptible subject 
present ; and this clever bird became under the sway of the 
lantern not only a complete fool, but a seemingly willing 
sacrifice. It was quite fearless and indiff'erent to the 
presence of myself and the keepers on the gallery, for it 
hustled past us in unceremonious fashion to reach the 
lantern, aiid, being baulked on the threshold by the windows, 
made vigorous attempts to reach the seductive lamp, and then 
sat half- exhausted on the sills and sashes, drinking-in, as it 
were, the light until it became quite stupefied, and when 
picked off" would sit contentedly on one^s hand. Great 
numbers were removed from the lantern and cast over into 
the darkness below; but many of them immediately re- 
turned. The Skylark was nearly as frequent a victim. It 
came up in great numbers to the light, but not being 
accustomed to perch on such slight coigns of vantage as the 
metal framework of the lantern ofi*ered, it fluttered violently 
against the glass for a time and, becoming exhausted, sank 
prostrate on the gallery *. It would have been quite 
possible to have captured a thousand Starlings and as 
many Skylarks. It was otherwise with the various species 
of Turdus. These, though present in equal or even greater 
numbers than either of the species just alluded to, were not 
aff'ected to anything like the same degree. The Blackbirds 
and Song-Thrushes approached the lantern more freely 
than the rest of their genus, but they had a habit of coming 
* I may here remark that I took with me to the Eddystone a quantity 
of netting, with which I completely surrounded the gallery by hanging- it 
perpendicularly from the railing. The object was to prevent any birds 
that struck from falling over. It answered admirably, and was the means 
of saving many birds which would otherwise have been lost. 
