38 REPORT ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 



have been less than in the previous year, yet what has been lost 

 in quantity has more than been made up in the quality of the 

 work. The observers have become trained by experience, and 

 have learnt not only how to observe, but what to observe. 



As in previous years, the main line of migration has been a 

 broad stream from E. to W. or from S.E. to N.W. this year, 

 covering the whole of our east coast in comparatively equal 

 proportions ; the occurrences of migrants coming from northerly 

 directions, or from points anything north of east, are few and 

 far between, and in these cases are consequent on birds striking 

 the coast in more northern latitudes and following it to the 

 south. Thus, north of Flamborough, Larks pass up the coast 

 from north to south ; at Spurn and south of Spurn they come in 

 dii-ectly from the sea. The closeness with which both migrants 

 and immigrants follow the coast line has also been verified in a 

 remarkable degree, — an observer taking up his position at a short 

 distance from the coast would see or know nothing of migration, 

 yet within half-a-mile or less there might be a constant stream 

 of birds, hour by hour and day by day passing to the south. 



In the spring birds also return on the same lines they travelled 

 in the autumn, from W. and N.W. to E. and S.E. A reference 

 to the spring notes in the report on each separate species observed 

 will show this. Our spring immigrants also arrive from the sea, 

 and are first seen on or near the coast, gradually moving inland. 

 Migration has been earlier than in 1880, in many cases birds 

 arriving considerably in advance of recent years ; this has been 

 notably the case with some of the Limicolce, such as have the 

 widest ranges and where nesting grounds are circumpolar — that 

 is, confined to lands surrounding the North Pole. Also in the 

 case of the Anatidce, which arrived fully a month before their 

 average period. 



It may be said the general features of migration, having 

 reference to lines of flight, time, height of travelling, favourable 

 winds or otherwise, circumstances of greatest casualties at lanterns 

 of lighthouses and light-vessels, -are the same as set forth in 

 previous reports; yet in 1881 we find several important variations 

 from the normal phenomenon, consequent on the directions of the 

 wind and general character of the season. From the commence- 

 ment of August to the end of October the prevailing winds have 

 been from northerly and easterly directions, blowing more or less 



