86 REPORT ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 



they had left by next day. Common and of daily occurrence at 

 Kyleakin. 



Curlew, Xumenius arquatus. — Of this species we have many 

 records, and it does not seem easy to distinguish between migra- 

 tion data and residence. However, I give the leading points for 

 further comparison. They occurred, or are recorded, at Cape 

 Wrath, and thence south at Island Ghlais, Monach, Kyleakin, 

 Skerry vore, Dhuheartach, Ehuvaal, Skervuile, Lochindaul, Port- 

 patrick. Point of Ayre, and Bahama l.v. They seemed to fly in 

 all directions, indicating to a great extent only local migration. 

 From April and May, on through June and July, and all the 

 autumn months they occur rather distinctly as resident, or as 

 passing flocks, and it seems almost impossible to separate the 

 movements in the end of summer which should be assigned as 

 part of the spring migration from those in the beginning of 

 autumn which more rightly belong to the autumnal migration. 

 As will be seen, however, I have attempted to do so, assigning 

 all June records to the former and July records to the latter. 

 The earliest record, then, in autumn stands as July 15th, when 

 forty were seen flying W. at 4.20 p.m. at Island Ghlais, wind 

 light N., clear. The latest recorded are on Dec. 25th, 26th and 

 27th at Ehu Stoir, flying south ; winds N. or light and variable 

 with showers. The general courses pursued were southerly or 

 from N.W. to S.E., or from N.E. to S.W., some flying direct W., 

 however, and others direct S. ; but at Portpatrick, on Aug. 19th 

 and 23rd, flocks were seen flying north and also south, indicating 

 a local migration. On Aug. 19th the wind was light S., haze, 

 and on 23rd light E., clear. Numbers passed Dhuheartach 

 between Aug. 12th and 17th, all going in southerly directions, 

 from S. to S.W. and S.E. On Monach they were unusually 

 abundant this year all September, and more than a dozen were 

 shot. '' Bushes," so far as such data are of value, appear to 

 have taken place in August, 12th to 17tli, or even later, — say to 

 23rd, — and locally, at Lochindaul, on Aug. 4th and 5th, and in 

 September, as 10th and 25th, -at Dhuheartach, and "unusually 

 abundant all September on Monach." In November, on the 3rd, 

 at Bahama l.v., Curlews were flying round the vessel all night. 

 On Aug. 15th four seen circling round Dhuheartach in calm, 

 clear weather, and on the 18th two seen flying south in light W. 

 wind and haze. On Nov. 2nd, at Douglas Head, one was killed 



