132 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



September. 



11th. — Perplexing Autumnal Movements. — Among the rush 

 of small migrants last year the Ortolan Bunting was not in- 

 cluded, nor do I remember having heard of any since September, 

 1904, in Norfolk or Suffolk, but this has been made up for by 

 the presence of a small flock on our coast during the present 

 month of 1909. The first one was identified by Mr. F. Eichards 

 on Sept. 11th, and others were seen at intervals up to the 23rd; 

 certainly eight or nine altogether were identified, and some shot. 

 Mr. E. C. Arnold also thinks he saw a Little Bunting. Neither 

 species is rare in Heligoland, the Ortolan being in fact, accord- 

 ing to Gatke, quite a common bird on that wonderful island. 

 The north and south direction of the annual lines of migrating 

 Buntings and other small birds on the east coast of England, 

 which are alternately vernal and autumnal, are comprehensible 

 enough, but there are certain other movements of birds in 

 Norfolk during September and October of which the same cannot 

 be said, for they are not to be so easily understood. What I 

 refer to are coast movements, chiefly performed by small birds, 

 and which can only be held to be movements ruled by the wind. 

 These travelling bands of small birds — too much scattered to be 

 called flocks — are especially to be noticed on that part of the 

 coast of this county which lies between Wells and Hunstanton. 

 No doubt it is easier for Sky-Larks, Wheatears, Finches, Yellow- 

 hammers, and perhaps an Ortolan, &c, to fly slowly and by 

 short stages against a moderate wind than to remain stationary 

 where they are, and especially must it be easier for Martins 

 and Swallows, which perch but little. But these birds cannot 

 be called migrants in the usually understood sense of the word, 

 because more often than not they are going the wrong way — 

 that is to say, north — at a time of the year (September) when 

 they should be going south. 



17th. — N.E., 1 ; fog in the morning. Mr. E. C. Arnold saw 

 several Sparrow-Hawks and Kestrels near the sea, which had 

 just come in, perhaps delayed by the fog. On the 20th I saw 

 four Sparrow-Hawks t in different places, and about the same 

 time Mr. Lowne had a Sparrow-Hawk and a Kestrel which had 

 been caught on ships. There are always arrivals of these two 

 species in September. 



