80 REPORT ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 



at Monacb, a few Blackbirds were seen. Thus on Dec. 3rd, one 

 male seen resting on the lantern at 10 i^.m., wind strong W., 

 haze. Another female on Dec. 4th, 2 p.m., Hying about the 

 garden, wind fresh S.S.W., haze and rain; and two Blackbh'ds, 

 accompanied by Starlings, at 1 p.m., wind fresh S., clear in the 

 garden and on the shore. As already noted, a still later flight 

 was noted in January, 1881, at Point of Ayre, Isle of Man. 



Note. — Thrushes, amongst other birds (vide Eobins, Linnets, 

 Snipe, Wagtails, &c.), were recognised by Capt. Eoy in Mid- 

 Atlantic, 400 miles on this side of Newfoundland. To Mr. Robt. 

 Gray I am indebted for some interesting and useful notes 

 regarding the occm-rences of bu'ds in Mid- Atlantic : — '* The ship 

 * Rutland,' of Greenock, Capt. Eoy. When about 400 miles on 

 this side of Newfoundland, during continued heavy gales from 

 the east, Capt. Eoy observed numbers of birds taking refuge on 

 the 20th Scptemher, He had had head-winds all the way home 

 to England, and birds more or less numerous round the ship till 

 the 2bth October. When he was 400 — 500 miles from Ii'eland, a 

 violent storm arose and blew prodigious flocks of birds before it. 

 The deck and rigging were covered. Many died, and many were 

 killed and used as food. The survivors, after staying a few days, 

 were carried off by the force of the wind. Capt. Eoy observed 

 one Eobin, lots of Linnets, Snipe, Thrushes, Wagtails, &c. 

 Heavy rains accompanied the storm." Mr. Gray continues, 

 " My brother-in-law, on his way to Boston in one of the Cunard 

 steamers, saw a Jackdaw and a Starling come on board on Oct. 

 23rd,- during a gale fi'om the east, when 550 miles from the Lish 

 coast, easterly winds having prevailed for several days. On Oct. 

 24th, 850 miles from land, one Starling perched for a few 

 minutes, k small bird like a Linnet hoverecl about the rigging, 

 bet did not j)erch. One Water Eail was cai)tured and detained 

 ten days, 1200 miles from land, and two Sandpipers. Writing 

 again on Dec. 21st, he tells me that on the outward passage, lat. 

 42^ N., long. 54° W., he had in view at one time fi*om five to six 

 hundi-ed Gulls, various species-^an extraordinary number to be 

 so far from land. When about 1080 miles from Ireland, going 

 out, two Crossbills flew on board. Both were captured." 



Thomas Anderson (son of Thomas xlnderson, joint author 

 with Mr. Robert Gray of ' The Birds of x\yrshii'e and Wigto^Mi- 

 shiie') and Mr. Gray inform me, a good observer, and who has 



