48 THE ORNITHOLOGIST. 



a matter of fact a wounded bird seems to fall through lack 

 of momentum. On one occasion I witnessed a curious fall 

 of a Rook. I shot at it as it was flying past me from left 

 to right. As far as I could judge — and I was only some forty 

 yards away — it was killed on the spot, but it so happened 

 at the moment of death that its wings were expanded. Instead 

 of travelling further by its own momentum, it slowly described 

 a spiral of several turns as it fell to the ground, its wings being 

 still expanded as it lay. Thus as soon as the motion of its 

 wings ceased its forward movement came to an end. 



Opinions differ greatly as to the direction of the winds 

 which are most favourable to the arrival of migratory birds in 

 different localities, and the evidence is very contradictory. 

 Some observers have also changed their views in the light of 

 greater experience. Mr. Cordeaux is perhaps amongst the 

 latter number. If Herr Gatke quotes him correctly, he ex- 

 presses the opinion that light east and south-east winds are the 

 most favourable to the arrival of autumnal migrants from 

 central Europe on our east coasts ; quite a contrary view to 

 that quoted by Mr. Gurney, but agreeing with the observations 

 of the Heligoland veteran. But of this more anon. I am, 

 however, inclined to think with Mr. Gurney that birds prefer 

 to migrate against the wind rather than with it. I have 

 formed this opinion from long observations conducted in the 

 Trent Valley, where spring migrants pass through most 

 abundantly during the prevalence of winds from some point 

 of the west. Many of our most conspicuous species reach us at 

 this period of the year from some district in the north-east, 

 probably the Humber, which latter locality they have reached 

 from winter quarters in north-east Africa by a S.E. to N.W. 

 line of flight. We are, however, confronted with a difficulty 

 here. How do we know that a favourable wind has prevailed 

 over the whole course of their journey ? A study of the 

 weather charts in the " Times " will soon show how the currents 

 of air vary in localities only comparatively short distances 

 apart. I cannot admit, however, that the greatest speed of 

 flight is attained when directed against a moderate wind ; one 

 has only to watch the flight of such a species as the Hooded 

 Crow to be convinced that this is not the case. It may, 



