REPORT ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 1G5 



thus occupied was from Sept. 16th to Oct. 25th. A rush took 

 place during October, and the greatest rush, perhaps, between 

 Oct. 14th and 25th. At North Ronaldshay, on Oct. 1st, numbers 

 struck, along with Blackbirds, and were fl.ying about all niglit. 

 Others seen at Girdleness, the Bell Rock, at Pentland Skerries, and 

 Dunnet Head. Thrushes migrated w^hen the wind was between 

 E. through S.E., S.S.W. to N.W., but i:)rincipally when southerly. 

 Fog, haze, and rain on all the dates given. Time of migration, 

 after dark and before dawn at all dates. 



Blackbird, Turdus merida. — Appeared at North Ronaldshay 

 and the Bell Rock between Oct. 1st and Nov. 25th. A rush during 

 this time recorded on three dates: — Oct. 1st, "Numbers flying 

 about all night," at North Ronaldshay, wind S.E., strong, "along 

 with Thrushes." Oct. 14th, four (two males and two females) 

 killed ; number flying about between 8 a.m. and dawn ; wind 

 N.E., fresh, with haze and rain. Nov. 25th, numbers, along with 

 Thrushes, flying about all night ; wind light E. breeze, haze. 



Ring Ouzel (or "Mountain Blackbird"), Turdus torqiiatiis. — 

 Reported from Sumburgh Head only, where one struck at 4 a.m. ; 

 wind light N. at 5 a.m., S.W. gale at 4 p.m.; weather clear. A 

 number of the same species were seen in the country about the 

 same time, and supposed to be young birds. At Auskeriy, where 

 they generally pass in large numbers, none were observed. 



Besides the above, "large Thrushes," probabl}^ Fieldfares,! 

 passed or were caught at Auskerry, in October; four on the 15th 

 between 1 and 4 a.m., wind light N., clear; six on the 16th between 



2 and 4 a.m., wind S.S.W., strong, haze ; and two on the 22nd at 



3 a.m., wind strong S.W., and haze. Large numbers struck the 

 lantern at the Bell Rock, and were lost in the sea between mid- 

 night and dawn on Sept. 7th, and again at the same station on 

 Oct. 14th, between 3 a.m. and dawn. These were mixed in flocks 

 of Blackbirds, Thrushes, and " various " other species. 



The great scarcity of Thrushes in Scotland all summer was 

 caused by the severe winter of 1878-79 and late spring of 1879, 

 a consequent "crowding down" upon low^er latitudes taking place 

 during that breeding season. I have referred very fully to this in 

 my first Report on Scottish Ornithology for the Natural History 

 Society of Glasgow for 1878-79 (now in MS., ready for press), 



+ Aftei'wards itlentified as such l»y the head, wings and tail sent in later com- 

 munication. 



