64 TTfiE ZOOtOGISlV 



Redwings, Lapwings, and Linnets, with other small birds, passed over us, 

 flying west, in an almost continuous stream ; Larks were most abundant, 

 and must have numbered many hundreds of thousands. Some of them 

 appeared much fatigued, and they spread in multitudes over kitchen gardens 

 and turnip fields, but the main body kept on their course to the westward. 

 How long this lasted into the night we could not tell, but some time after 

 dark the twitter of Larks could be heard. From 8 a.m. to about noon on 

 the morning of Dec. 21st, the stream of Larks and other birds continued 

 to pass in similar clouds as on the previous day, but it slackened as 

 the day wore on, and towards evening it very nearly ceased. Although 

 Larks formed the bulk of the migrants, Linnets were very numerous ; 

 some of these were so tame that they remained searching for seeds in the 

 heads of knapweed and charlock which stood above the snow, while we 

 passed within a few yards of them. On the cleared patches, about hay- 

 ricks, Chaffinches, Larks, Tits, Starlings, Linnets, Yellowhammers, Green- 

 finches, and Rooks were in great abundance, with a few Cirl Buntings and 

 Wagtails. Some years ago, when hard weather set in over the eastern 

 counties, we observed migration towards the west along the same lines as in 

 the present instance. Larks and Starlings formed the majority of the 

 migrants, but, though their numbers were very great, they did not approach 

 the vast flocks seen on Dec. '20th and 21st. On Dec. 23rd the wind 

 changed to the S.E., with thaw and raiu, and, on the melting snow, dead 

 Larks, Redwings, and Linnets were frequently found. Those examined 

 were miserably thin, with nothing in their gizzards but grit." 



In a later report, dated Jan. 8th, 1891, Mr. Lister writes : — " Since 

 the date of my last communication (Dec. 23rd) we have experienced in this 

 district (Lyme Regis) a continuance of the rigorous weather which has 

 prevailed throughout the country, and which has killed off Thrushes and 

 Blackbirds in numbers altogether unprecedented in my experience ; on the 

 public roads, as well as along the hedgerows, dead birds are met with in 

 dozens. Redwings were the most numerous victims when the frost first 

 set in ; they came to us in great numbers about the middle of December, 

 together with a vast influx of Song Thrushes, so that in many fields the 

 two species might be counted almost in hundreds ; but the persistent cold 

 and snow have driven away most of the survivors, which have probably joined 

 the flocks of other birds flying westwards ; their numbers, indeed, have so 

 diminished that on the 4th of January not a Redwing was to be seen or 

 heard in a ramble of several miles. The migration of Larks, referred to in 

 my former letter, has continued ever since, though with considerable fluc- 

 tuation ; with somewhat milder weather between Jan. 2nd and 4th it had 

 almost ceased, but on the 5th it was again renewed. The day had been 

 almost cloudless, with steady N.E. wind : towards eveniug the cold 

 increased, and for several hours flights of Larks, going westward, passed 



