54 REPORT ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 



are reported after November in most seasons, and similar reports 

 come from Island Glass and others of the more northerly stations. 

 The great gales from W. and S.W. during November and Decem- 

 ber made all birds scarce at Monach Island, even Eider Ducks 

 being unusually scarce. At Skerr^'vore birds never struck 

 lanterns in flocks this year, but onl}^ in scattered instances. It 

 will thus be seen that the migratory seasons of 1B79 and 1881 

 most closely resemble each other, as regards our Scottish coasts, 

 whilst that of 1880 was more abnormal, owing to the easterly 

 winds prevailing. 



It would almost appear that the great rush of migrants in 

 September on the Bell Rock, and more noticeably on Isle of May, 

 would also account for the collection of birds at stations on the 

 west coast south of the Firth of Clyde, as the dates tally with 

 each other on both coasts, to see which it is only necessary to 

 compare between them under several of the species. I have also 

 independent reports upon the large crowds of birds seen passing 

 south over the Solway Firth at these dates, few of which aj^pear 

 to have been seen north of the Firth of Clyde.* Rushes have 

 not been so large, yet they are indicated with tolerable precision 

 by the returns. The extremely regular and open winter has no 

 doubt much to do with this, the temperature in Great Britain 

 having been higher than for many years previous. But these throbs 

 or rushes being distinctly traceable is owing, on the other hand, I 

 believe, to the prevailing wind fully as much as to the severity or 

 non- severity of the weather. Rushes are normal phenomena in 

 the West of Europe, because westerly or north-westerly or south- 

 westerly winds usually prevail there. Regular or more dispersed 

 movements of birds in the West of Europe are abnormal, because 



easterly winds are abnormal there. In 1880 we had a spread- 



. ^t 



* Mr. R. Service contributes the following: — "The severe gales retarded 

 the migration of the shore bii'ds during October to a great extent, causing 

 them to " accumulate " in our district for several weeks. On October 12tli I 

 saw a twenty-acre field completely covered with Lapwings. At the same 

 time, and for about a fortnight afterwards, the number of birds on the Solway 

 banks was most extraordinary. The great majority of these were Bar-tailed 

 Godwits, Oystercatchers, and Knots. Just outside the line of breakers 

 opposite the rocks at Southemess Point, Scaups and Scoters were especially 

 numerous, di%'ing above the mussel beds. As they rose and feU on the 

 crests of the heaving waves these bu-ds formed many an interesting and 

 beautiful group." 



