118 REPORT ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 



Besides the above, we have a few instances of birds unknown, 

 of which, perhaps, the most puzzHng is reported from Longships, 

 Sei^t. 8th, midnight, mod. S.S.E. gale, misty, with showers, " one 

 strange bird, the shape and size of a Starhng, pattern and hue 

 of a Partridge, with its legs covered over with stiff feathers." At 

 Godrevy, Oct. 4th, two foreign Wrens (? Goldcrests) killed, with 

 Lark and Petrel. At Skerries, Oct. 13th, 16th and 17th, flocks 

 of small birds passed during the day, flying E. At Smalls, 

 Oct. 2Gth, before sunrise, birds unknown passed ; Nov. 3rd, 

 before sunrise, continuous flocks were flying round the light, 

 three struck and fell overboard, mod. E. breeze, cloudy, but 

 clear horizon. At N. Stack, Nov. 12th, 7.35 a.m., fresh W. 

 breeze, cloudy, two flocks of birds, name unknown, flying N.E. ; 

 26th, 3 p.m., mod. S.W. gale, drizzling rain, fifty grey birds 

 passed, also flying N.E. On Jan. 16th, we hear from Longships, 

 that at 8.15 a.m., gentle W. breeze, cloudy, but clear horizon, 

 *' flocks of small birds were noticed at sunrise passing westward, 

 leaving the land, upon a change of weather from a sharp frost 

 and snow, and a change of wind from E. to W." 



The stations are not all equally favourably situated for 

 observing, and a general scarcity of birds is reported from the 

 following : — St. Bees, Mr. Pizey writes that, for over five years 

 that he has been there, he has remarked "the extreme scarcity 



of birds of any sort As for flocks of birds I have never 



witnessed them here, an occasional Kobin, Blackbird or Thrush 



being all the variety we see Common Sparrows few in 



number." Mr. G. Knott says, " very few birds are seen at Bull 

 Point." From Flatholm and Usk we hear "very few land-birds 

 are seen, and at the former only Gulls, and they in the three 

 winter months alone." " The lighthouse at Avon is so close to 

 the docks and village that no birds come to the light " ; and that 

 at Burnham, having "only four panes facing west, does not attract 

 many birds." " The land-birds to be seen in the immediate 

 neighbourhood of Trevose Head are very scarce." From Wolf 

 Rock Mr. Crask writes, "Hardly ever any birds come nigh us 

 but Gulls, which come by thousands after fish ; the only others 

 ever seen being Starlings, and these few and far between." 



Some stations report a marked scarcity during the past, in 

 comparison with other years. Thus, from Holyhead, Mr. 

 Prichard writes, "Being a very mild winter have not seen 



