BOBINS ON MIGRATION. 5 



a single Eobin during all that time I was on the Rock. And yet 

 the period of the spring migration is apparently a lengthened one, 

 extending from February to May, during which months many 

 observations elsewhere have been made, and records attested by 

 the capture of specimens (Barrington). The time when I was 

 at the Tuskar Light- Station last spring should have repre- 

 sented the period of most active migration. Furthermore, in 

 regard to the state of the weather, I may set forth that there 

 were several splendid nights suitable for alluring migrants to 

 the lantern, on which occasions great numbers of birds were 

 collected. It is interesting to note, moreover, that in the 

 lengthened period from 1881 to 1897, Mr. Barrington* only 

 obtained four reported occurrences from the Tuskar in the 

 spring — three in February and one in March. It is very signi- 

 ficant that none of these occurrences are instances of birds seen 

 at the lantern, but on the rock and in gloomy weather. The 

 birds were not captured, and so these occurrences cannot carry 

 the same weight that they would, had the specimens been secured 

 and forwarded for corroboration. In fact, from what I have to 

 say presently, we shall see what an important matter it is for 

 an ornithologist to receive statements regarding the occurrence 

 of this species (familiar and conspicuous though it may be as 

 we see it in our lawns and gardens) with a considerable degree 

 of caution. In short, then, neither Mr. Barrington nor I have 

 received a specimen of the Robin in spring from the Tuskar 

 Light- Station. Having thus no personal experience of the 

 Robin's migration in spring at the Tuskar Light-Station, I feel 

 I am not in a position to offer much comment in regard to its 

 migration route, but probably large numbers adroitly avoid the 

 lantern. Inasmuch, however, as it has been observed at several 

 of the lightships adjacent to the Tuskar Rock, one cannot infer 

 that the latter station is out of its migration route. From the 

 Blackwater Bank Lightship its occurrence has been proved, for 

 Mr. Barrington t tells us he received a specimen from that station 

 on March 13th, 1896. 



Now, if we include the east coast generally, the Robin is said 

 to have struck the lanterns of five stations, while in the case of 



* ' Migration of Birds,' "Analysis of Eeports," J 881-1897, pp. 38-42. 

 f Loc. cit. p. 38. 



