268 A Month on the Eddystone. 
few cases that came under my notice at the Eddystone. 
In addition to those of the Skylarks and the Meadow- 
Pipits (which shewed a very considerable variation in size 
and certain peculiarities of plumage inter se, though all were 
obtained during single movements), the Starlings lulled on 
the night of Oct. 12th-13th were all of one race, namely, the 
purple-headed form, and yet the wings of the males varied 
from 5*38 in. to 5*0 in. (four being over 5'25 in.) and of the 
females from 5*15 in. to 4"85 in. (13 being over 5 in.). 
Some, probably most, of this remarkable variation was due 
to age, much to individualism, none to race. This influence 
of age was well illustrated in the Blackbirds obtained ; the 
wings of all the young males measured from '30 to '40 in. less 
than the adult. To be of any real use, beyond, of course, 
the important one of identification, all wings should be 
accompanied by the age and sex of the specimen from which 
they were taken, and it is important, where possible, to 
obtain a number of examples from the same movement. 
Until these essential data are forthcoming, it is impossible 
to realize the true significance of wing-measurements, and 
it is worse than useless to draw deductions from them. 
On the question of the young and old birds travelling 
together or apart on their migrations, or in what species they 
do so, my observations at the Eddystone throw some light. 
Swallows, both adults and juveniles, were observed passing in 
company during the daytime; and young and old of theMistle- 
Thrush, Redwing, Blackbird, Wheatear, Stonechat, Yellow 
Wagtail, and Skylark were obtained together at the lantern 
at night. 
Since I left the Eddystone, the keepers have furnished 
me with a series of carefully fiUed-in schedules, wherein 
are recorded in detail all the observations up to date. I 
succeeded in thoroughly interesting them in the work. 
A pleasant duty remains. I have to express to the Elder 
Brethren of the Trinity House my gratitude for the privilege 
they so graciously granted me. My thanks are also tendered 
to Captain Reading and to G. F. Treleavan, Esq , for the 
information and assistance they so kindly aftbrded me ; and 
