184 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



at the lantern every night during the whole period of darkness ; 

 indeed, meteorological conditions were often such that it was 

 inexpedient to do so. Attendance on occasions when no birds, 

 or at the most very few, appeared in the rays and these at long 

 intervals of time, was generally completed about 1 or 2 a.m., 

 and my period of sleep was procured from about 3 to 7 a.m. 

 Hence, I was oblivious of the features of diurnal migration 

 which was going on during most of these hours. Not, however, 

 altogether oblivious. For frequently the Lightkeeper, on early 

 morning watch, would rouse me from my slumbers by telling 

 me of a migration of birds across the flock, and of those which 

 alighted — sometimes strange ones — and which could be identified. 

 Disinclined to rise so early and at first resentful that the brief span 

 allotted for sleep should be broken into, I soon, however, learned 

 that my best thanks were due to the Lightkeeper, for it was 

 through his instrumentality that I identified many interesting 

 specimens of birds as they tarried for a little on the Kock. I 

 was deeply interested on those occasions when I once got out, 

 not only because I collected specimens, but also because of the 

 intensely important observations which I made. And so 

 completely did the call of the Lightkeeper take possession of 

 my mind that — fully expectant of his arrival — I often found 

 myself awaking spontaneously as the first glimmer of grey dawn 

 peeped through my window. Furthermore, I seemed to become 

 all at once wide-awake, even though I may have lain down but 

 two hours previously. And now, while not only thinking of 

 what might be awaiting my advent on the Eock, but also 

 listening to the actual chirp of well-known birds, there developed 

 within me a glow of enthusiasm which culminated in an ardent 

 desire to rise every morning at dawn for the remaining period of 

 my second autumnal visit. 



In the second place, for a different reason, I became anxious 

 to make a systematic study of bird-migration by day, commenc- 

 ing at dawn. In the interval which elapsed between my second 

 and third visit to the Tuskar Light-Station, Mr. Eagle Clarke's 

 eagerly expected and most welcome work on migration was pub- 

 lished, and I read with much interest how the author found 

 that diurnal movements of certain birds, Swallows, Pipits, and 

 Wagtails, formed a distinct and important feature as personally 



