16 REPORT ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 



over the artificial ponds. Also seen at Morningside by A. B. 

 Herbert, on 15tb. I have the following notes from Dr. John 

 Grieve, at Bridge of Allan, which locality is famed in spring for 

 the shelter afforded from east winds. Dr. Grieve's notes refer 

 however to autumn notes. In 1880 Swifts left the Bridge of 

 Allan on Aug. 10th. In 1879 Swifts left between 8th and 17th, 

 and in 1882 on the 8th. "Previous to leaving they always 

 chase one another round the houses until two days before 

 leaving ; then they appear to keep to higher air." In 1881 two 

 were seen on May 3rd, being the first arrivals. In 1880 about 

 200 " Mai-tins and a few Swallows collected on two houses in 

 Bridge of Allan on Aug. 22nd, and similar congregations took 

 place in smaller numbers on 27th to 31st, and on Sept. 8th. On 

 Oct. 4th, frost ; and in afternoon some twenty-five seen. On 

 Oct. 6th, five to one hundred seen hawking over the wood behind 

 Bridge of Allan. On 8th, six seen. On 8th, hard frost and fog ; 

 four seen flying about in silence ; next morning, hard frost. On 

 20th, 15° frost; on 21st, 6° ; 22nd, 10°; and 23rd, 2°. But on 23rd 

 two Swallows seen. These were the last that year." In 1882 

 great numbers of Swallows and Martins were seen flying east- 

 ward, outside the cliffs of Beachy Head on Oct. 4th, and a good 

 many remained along the undercliff of the Isle of Wight at 

 Ventnor. 



The above notes by Dr. Grieve are quite to the point, and if 

 we could continue to receive land notes such as these from all 

 parts of the country they would be sure to prove most useful, 

 even if confined to one or two species of regular migrants. 



Fringillid^. — Both in spring and autumn, one of the 

 features of the 1883 migration is the number of records of 

 Finches (also of Thrushes, and to a less extent of Buntings), 

 whilst Thrushes — of sorts — and Finches, seem usually to travel 

 together ; there seems, if we may so call it, more uniform action 

 in the formers' movements in 1883. The Thrushes' movements 

 are more compressed : those of Finches more extended in time ; 

 or, in other words, the spring and autumn migrations of the 

 TurclidcB are more strongly defined than those of the Finches. 

 Thrushes (including Blackbirds and all species) are totally 

 absent during June and July (not including residents of course), 

 and almost absent during August and September, and again the 

 same in December and January (1884). But, though the migra- 



