14 STUDIES IN BIRD-MIGRATION 



the movement referred to, several Rooks and Jackdaws 

 appeared at the lantern and flew around for some hours, 

 indeed until daybreak the following morning, and one 

 adult Rook and two Jackdaws were captured. A great 

 number of Starlings, Skylarks, Chaffinches, Mistle- 

 Thrushes, Song-Thrushes, Goldcrests, Meadow- Pipits, 

 Wagtails, and other undetermined passerines were 

 present, and doubtless also came from the east. 



The 1 8th added some interesting experiences. The 

 "relief" at the Kentish Knock lightship was effected by 

 the Trinity yacht "Irene" at 9 a.m. A great westerly 

 movement was in full swing at the time, under weather 

 conditions which were eminently favourable to the 

 migrants ; these comprised the usual species — namely, 

 Starlings, Skylarks, Chaffinches, and Tree- Sparrows. 

 At 10.30 A.M., we bade adieu to the lightship and steamed 

 south-west towards the Kentish coast, on nearing which 

 our course was changed, and we proceeded west in the 

 direction of the Thames estuary, and finally to the 

 mouth of the river, where, at 3 p.m., I was put ashore at 

 Southend. 



During the entire passage of four and a half hours — 

 the distance travelled being close upon fifty miles — we 

 were at first crossing the course of, and afterwards 

 running parallel to, the flight of continuous flocks of 

 Starhngs and Skylarks, and of fewer Chaffinches and 

 Tree- Sparrows, all proceeding westwards, and all flying 

 just above the surface of the calmest of seas and in the 

 finest of weather. 



These flocks, especially those of the two first-named 

 species, were never absent from view, and we must have 

 encountered tens of thousands of these birds during the 

 passage. It was a revelation even to one — shall I 



