LINES OF MIGRATION. 177 



once attracted by numerous flocks of Finches, which were passing 

 along the shore in a southerly direction. On closer examination, 

 I found most of the flocks to consist of Chaffinches, both old and 

 young birds being represented ; but I found others to be com- 

 posed of Linnets, with a few Twites amongst them. Large flocks 

 of Starlings also alternated with the Finches, whilst strings of 

 Hooded Crows flew by just above the margin of the land. I did 

 not observe any of the flocks alight, but amongst the drift left by 

 the tide Meadow Pipits and Wheatears were searching for food 

 in some numbers. After mid-day the number of birds passing 

 began to decline, and by three o'clock few were in sight. 



On the 13th, though bright and warm, not much movement 

 was apparent, except amongst the Chaffinches. On the 14th 

 I walked north towards Holm. The Chaffinches were still arriving 

 in large numbers, but the commonest bird was the Sky Lark; all 

 I observed were winging their way south, some of the flocks being 

 very extensive. The procession of Hooded Crows still continued, 

 and I noted the arrival of a few Redwings and Missel Thrushes. 

 On the beach I met with the Rock Pipit in some numbers, and 

 also the Snow Bunting. These two species had probably taken 

 up their quarters for the winter, though some movement was 

 apparent in the case of the Snow Buntings. Flocks of Lapwings 

 passing in a southerly direction were frequent. 



On the 15th not so much migration amongst the smaller birds 

 was to be observed, but very many Hooded Crows arrived, with 

 fair numbers of Rooks and Redwings. The migration of Chaf- 

 finches, Hooded Crows, Rooks, and Starlings set in again with 

 renewed vigour on the 16th, but this time the Chaffinches were 

 accompanied by Greenfinches, and I also observed three larger 

 finches which I was unable to identify — they may have been 

 Hawfinches, or Crossbills. The night of the 16th was very wet, 

 and the morning of the 17th dawned on a rough sea, with a 

 strong west wind. In spite of the weather, however, birds 

 appeared in large numbers. The most prominent was the 

 Starling, which arrived in great numbers; some of the flocks 

 must have contained several thousand birds. Sky Larks were 

 also abundant, and I met with a flock of Goldfinches and Twites. 

 The Goldfinches were feeding on seeds of ragwort amongst the 

 sand-hills. Linnets and Hooded Crows were well represented, 

 but Chaffinches were comparatively scarce. 



ZOOLOGIST.— MAY, 1891. P 



