WEST COAST OF SCOTLAND. 77 



Report (Fourth Eeport, 1882, p. 67) the effects of these gales 

 and N.E. winds in spring of 1883 was almost to stop migration 

 at Isle of May, which migration had *' set in pretty briskly 

 on March 2nd, and almost ceased on the 5th. From the latter 

 date only a few " stragglers of the strongest wings " up to the 

 19th ; while a great concourse of Wagtails was observed inland in 

 Edinburgh (see report as above quoted) ; few were seen at Isle of 

 May till the 30th, when five came with S. gale {op. cit,, p. 68). 



The general migration was much weaker in numbers this 

 season in spring, and this is doubtless owing to the prevalence of 

 strong S.E. gales and winds at the time of migration, moderate 

 S.E. or easterly winds being preferred. Still there were con- 

 siderable rushes at the more favourable localities for observation 

 especially of Thrushes and other Turdidce, 



The anomalous migration recorded by Mr. Cordeaux on to part 

 of the English coast between Feb. 18th and May 18th,* with 

 strong E. and S.E. winds, changing occasionally by N.E. to W. 

 and N.W., is somewhat difficult of explanation, unless we could 

 correlate data from the opposite coasts at the same dates in 

 spring of 1883 ; but the fact stated by me that migration began 

 briskly at Isle of May on March 2nd and almost ceased by the 

 5th may indicate that the migration thus retarded by adverse 

 winds, or altered in direction thereby, passed N. by more inland 

 routes, avoiding the Scottish coast-line, and hugging every 

 sheltering hollow of land. Blown across the North Sea at the 

 more southerly stations, they then crept northwards silently and 

 more inland. Being all adult birds, and having crossed the 

 North Sea not at the widest part if they came with a S.E. wind, 

 less exhaustion would occur, and thus, passing inland, they would 

 escape notice near the coast. 



Before we can speak with much certainty as to the progress 

 of spring migrations into the further districts influenced by them, 

 we require more full and continuous data from Faroe and Iceland. 

 Still, the earliest appearance noted in Iceland of the Eedwing, 

 Turdus iliacus, on April 7th, 1882, should be noted as a possible 

 means of comparison in that year with the returns from our own 

 coasts. Data from our West Coast of Scotland help us little in 

 1883 in spring, and even less so in 1882, as regards Turdidce. 

 Wheatears again, in 1882, are noted not before April 24th, and 



* See p. 60 of this Eeport. 



