SMALL BIRDS ON MIGRATION 353 



The same thing has been observed by Mr E. T. 

 Booth off the coast of Norfolk. So recently as 

 October 1905, two cases were reported of Gold- 

 crests coming on board ship at some distance from 

 land. In the one case several of these little birds 

 alighted on board H.M.S. Russell, while going 

 from Broadford Bay to Berehaven on October 1 1 ; 

 and on the same day a similar occurrence was noted 

 on H.M.S. Good Hope, while steaming along the 

 coast of Ireland, some 12 or 15 miles from land, 

 between Wicklow Head and Hook Point. 



There is, then, nothing so improbable as might 

 at first sight appear in a Gold-crest crossing the 

 North Sea and alighting tired on the broad platform 

 afforded by the expansive back and wings of a Short- 

 eared Owl travelling at slower speed beneath it. At 

 anyrate, the fact remains that the Gold-crest was 

 seen to descend from the Owl's back when the 

 latter alighted, and its identity was placed beyond 

 doubt by its subsequent capture. There is verily 

 in heaven and earth much that is still undreamt of 

 in our philosophy. 



