on the Eddystone. 267 
nor the individuals of a species appeared simultaneously, 
though sometinaes several kinds arrived in company, and 
thus the passages were a succession of arrivals practically 
down to their close. Here we have evidence, I think, that 
certain of the emigrants had journeyed from districts more 
or less distant ere the Channel was reached on the voyage 
southwards. 
On each occasion when a number of birds of any species 
was killed at the lantern, it was interesting to note how 
considerably they varied in size, and some, though to a 
less degree, in colour. The Skylarks, 76 in number, 
obtained during the great movement of October 12th-13th, 
shewed the remarkable range of wing-measurement of from 
4*70 in. to 3'85 in. ; the Starlings, obtained on the same 
date and 53 in number, from 5*38 in. to 4'85 in. ; and the 
Meadow-Pipits from 3*37 in. to 2-91 in. The Skylarks and 
Meadow-Pipits exhibited some variation in colour, difficult to 
describe in words, but quite manifest to the observer. It is 
possible that more than one race of the two last-named 
species was represented during the movement, or it may be, 
in the case of all three species, that the peculiarities in size, 
&c., were due, in a greater or less degree, to age or sex, 
or both in combination. 
As regards the characters which may distinguish the various 
continental representatives of many of our commonest species 
we as yet know extremely little ; while the age of certain birds 
in the late autumn is not an easy matter to determine, nor 
do the histories of their plumages at that season appear to be 
sufficiently well known to help us to reliable conclusions on 
this point. 
Wing-measurements are valuable as an indication of the 
range of variation within species, but speculations based 
upon ordinary material are apt to be extremely misleading. 
Here, again, sex and age, alone or in combination, may, and 
do, account for much of the variation to be found, and yet 
how insignificant are the data in our possession which afiEord 
these essential particulars ! 
As bearing directly upon these remarks, I will instance a 
