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THE STARLING (Stumus vulgaris). 



The observations on the movements of this species were received 

 almost entirely from the light-keepers, and resembled those of the 

 Sky-Lark, with which the Starling- was in very many cases associated. 



During the end of July and throughout August an increase took place 

 on the coasts of Kent and Devon, but it seems probable that this was 

 due to local movements. 



The few birds noticed at the Gull Lt.-v. (Kent) on September the 

 27th, and at the Varne Lt.-v. (Kent) and at St. Catherine's Lt. (Isle of 

 Wight) on the 29th. may have been either immigrants or emigrants. 

 On September the 30th the first immigrant flocks, flying west towards 

 land, were noted on the east coast at the Inner Dowsing Lt. (Lincoln- 

 shire), and on the next day at the Haisboro' Lt.-v. (Norfolk). 



During the first ten days of October a few flocks were seen from time 

 to time at several of the east-coast light-vessels making towards the 

 land, but it was not until the 11th that the immigratory wave reached 

 any large proportions. From that date till towards the end of the month 

 there seems to have been a continuous stream of immigrants, flocks being 

 noted every day and nearly every night at several of the east coast 

 Lights from the Inner Dowsing Lt.-v. (Lincolnshire) to the Gull Lt.-v. 

 (in the Straits of Dover). On some days these were noticed at no less 

 than six different lights, and this migration must at times have 

 extended almost continuously from the Humber to the Straits of Dover. 

 On eacli occasion the line of flight was such as to bring the birds 

 straight to land, the general direction, as in the case of the Sky-Lark, 

 being west. 



During the last few days of October and the early days of November 

 the immigration on the east coast diminished, and after November the 

 4th there were only three records, viz., at the North Goodwin Lt.-v. 

 (Kent) on November the 9th, and at the Gull Lt.-v. on the 19th and 

 80th. when flocks were noted going west. 



An increase in numbers was noted in Devon on October the 4th, 13th, 

 and 20th ; while in Suffolk on the 22nd and in Lincolnshire on the 28th 

 flocks were observed coming in from the sea, though the majority of the 

 birds had already arrived. 



On October the 28th many flocks were recorded from the Bishop Rock 

 Lt. (Isles of Scilly) going westward ; and on the three following days great 

 numbers were reported from St. Catherine's Lt. (Isle of Wight), but the 

 direction was not stated. On November the lst/2nd Starlings were again 

 reported in great numbers from St. Catherine's Lt., Dungeness Lt. 

 (Kent) and Hanois Lt. (Channel Islands). The next night vast numbers 

 were recorded from St. Catherine's, Bishop Rock, and Hanois Lts. At 

 the Bishop Rock Lt. it was observed that the flocks were going west ; 

 at daylight on the 3rd flocks were still passing the Hanois Lt., and it 



