498 



I^otes on the Effects of the recent Winter Storms on Birds 

 and other Animals — Novemher, 1880, to March, 1881. 

 By Robert Gray, F.KS.E., F.S.A. Scot. 



[Eead 25th May, 1881, at the Dunbar Meeting of the Club]. 



It is not many weeks since we escaped from tlie rigours of a 

 winter which may safely be said to have been one of the severest 

 on record during the present century, and I have thought that it 

 might interest the members of the Club, to listen for a few minutes 

 to some of the observations which have been made in various 

 parts of the country, ou the effects of the season upon Birds and 

 other animals. These observations, I may remark, are taken 

 from my own note books, and from letters addressed to myself by 

 correspondents throughout Scotland, during the storms which 

 broke out at intervals between November and the last week of 

 March. 



Before giving an abstract of the occurrences of which I have 

 taken note, it may not be out of place to refer to the strong east- 

 erly gales \vhich prevailed in the end of October, and up to the 

 middle of the following month, and which may be said to have 

 been the beginning of sorrow to the poor birds. Many of the 

 Clyde Ships on their passage from America, were thronged with 

 flocks of birds of various species, and I have several records be- 

 fore me which shew that these visitors in Mid Atlantic were more 

 than usually numerous during the months I have mentioned. 

 One ship in particular— the " Eutland " of Greenock— was on the 

 25th of October, literally covered with small birds when between 

 four and five hundred miles from the coast of Ireland. The vessel 

 had been tossed about in the Atlantic for 72 days, and the crew 

 on board had run short of provisions. The visitation of birds, 

 therefore, was looked upon as a Providential relief. The chief 

 species were the common thrush, pied wagtail, linnet, and snipe. 

 There was only one robin in the vast assemblage. The birds 

 covered the deck and rigging, and Captain Eoy has informed me 

 through my friend Mr Stark, that many of them died almost im- 

 mediately, through apparent exhaustion. The " Eutland" left 

 Quebec on the 28th August and experienced easterly winds all 

 the way aci-oss. The first flock of birds alighted on the 20th 

 September, and as the distance of the ship from Newfoundland 

 was at that time not over 400 miles, it is presumed that many of 

 the little creatures, which, after leaving the vessel, were seen to 

 be carried on with the gale, found their way to that country. 



