^VEST COAST' OF ENGLAND. 119 



an3^thing of note ; not a bird striking this winter." At Bardsey 

 the inhabitants say they " never observed so few birds before ; " 

 and Mr. Bowen suggests that "the fog-horn sounding may 

 prevent birds striking." With respect to this we hear from 

 Skerries that " few birds have been seen since they had a 

 fog-horn." At Morecambe, Caernarvon, and other stations 

 where there are fog signals, however, we hear of birds striking 

 or killed. At St. Judwalls the entire absence of Starlings for 

 the whole winter was remarked. (Pigeons were seen here from 

 second week in May to first week in August.) From Nash it is 

 reported that " during November and December sea-birds were 

 very scarce, and all birds singularly scarce at latter end of 

 October, and extremely so during the nights both of September 

 and October ; and, again, all sea- and land-birds have been more 

 scarce during the nights of the present winter than ever I 

 recollect" (John Eichards). Mr. Nicholas attributes it to the 

 very mild winter. From Smalls we hear that during December 

 no birds were seen about the lighthouse. From Hartland Point 

 Mr. Griffiths writes, that ''for twenty-five years he had always 

 seen and caught birds, but not this year ; nor have any struck, 

 as in other years." At Burnham (Aug. 14th) and at Usk (Sep- 

 tember) a Land Bail only bird killed. 



Concerning the circumstances under which birds strike, the 

 returns bear out the conclusions expressed in last year's report, 

 that dark or cloudy nights, with fog, haze or rain, are most 

 hazardous. Three or fom' exceptional instances are recorded of 

 striking in daylight. October and November appear to be the 

 most dangerous months, and South Bishop the most deadly 

 station. Mr. T. Bowen writes, from Bardsey, that "birds strike 

 in general u'ith the wind; without, very rare exception." Mr. 

 Crask, from Wolf Eock, in reply to a question on which side 

 they strike, writes, " when they strike the lantern it is generally 

 N.W." Other stations have not noticed. 



Of the species reported on, the Starling has received by far 

 the most notice ; and next come Larks, Crows, Wild Ducks, 

 Gulls, Thrushes, &c. Possibly some of the notices may refer to 

 local migrations, or movements from one feeding-ground to 

 another. 



The notices of the AnaticlcE are all in the daytime. The 

 direction of their flight (seldom recorded) is, sometimes, directly 



