WEST COAST OF SCOTLAND. 79 



Outer Hebrides, as in 1882. But on the other hand, when a 

 "closed fan " reaches our E. coast with prevaiHng westerly and 

 north-westerly winds, and, having much less expansion to the 

 northward, as in 1883, as regards the E. coast, it seems that 

 birds arriving, less exhausted with the winds best suited for 

 their successful passage, pass on inland, the same lines of 

 flight being persevered in, and thus reach further north upon the 

 West Coast of Scotland. 



Thus the Goldcrest, in 1883, reached as far north as Dhu- 

 heartach and Lismore in some numbers ; but in 1882, when 

 they came in such vast hordes to our east coast, we had no 

 records north of Khinns of Islay, and none others until we found 

 them in "great numbers" at stations south of the Firth of 

 Clyde. 



Kushes took place on August 16th at Isle of May, and again 

 on 22nd, with easterly wind and fog, principally of Wheatears, 

 culminating on night of Sept. 2nd — 3rd, and being accompanied 

 by Eedstarts, Chiffchaffs, Kobins, Sedge Warblers, Wood Warblers, 

 and Golden and Grey Plovers ; Thrushes apparently totally absent. 

 A single adult Blue-throated Warbler, with bright blue breast, 

 was observed at Isle of May. The rush was on Sept. 4th, at 

 Pentland Skerries, with strong N. wind. Another rush, about 

 Sept. 15th, of Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs ; and, on 22nd, of 

 Eobins, accompanied by a single recorded Goldcrest. A rush of 

 the latter took place on Oct. 10th at Isle of May. Common 

 Wrens, not in large numbers, also migrated on Sept. 22nd and 

 23rd. 



Another feature of the 1883 Keport is the abundance of 

 Finches, which usually travel with the Thrushes, but whose 

 migration appears to be extended over a longer period of time 

 than that of the Thrushes in 1883. 



It will be gathered from the Keport that the dates of rushes 

 on our E. Scottish coasts were slightly later than those on the 

 E. English coast, averaging from twenty-four to thirty hours by 

 the schedules, and that the migration past the more northerly 

 stations of Scotland were in proportion later than in the south. 

 And also that the dates of the heaviest rushes on the E. coast 

 agree fairly well with the dates of the W. coast. 



While closing our 1883 Eeport it is perhaps desirable to call 

 attention to the very great spring migration of Woodcocks, which 



