REPORT ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 185 



the last forty years there have never, during a single autumn, 

 been a fiftieth part of what we see here now every day — all passing 

 along, principally during the forenoon, east of the island in an E. 

 by N. direction, which I think they continue till coming to the 

 Holstein coast, then strike off in a northerly course up to the 

 extreme north of Jutland, and from thence cross over to the 

 'Dutch coast, perhaps next morning to renew the trip. There are 

 constantly so many that one scarcely can believe them always to 

 be fresh birds." 



Procellarid-e. — At the Longstone, on Sept. 18th, at 3 a.m., 

 two Petrels were caught against the lantern-windows. At Coquet 

 Island, on Nov. 4th, 3 a.m., one killed against the lantern. At the 

 Goodwin, Oct. 11th, five were seen with many Larks and Starlings 

 round the lantern at night. Greater numbers of Procellaria 

 glacialis have been seen off Heligoland during the autumn than 

 has been the case for the last twenty years. 



Independent of the notes of each species, as already given, 

 numerous flocks of small birds were seen passing the stations, but 

 too far distant to determine the species. This was specially the 

 case at the Spurn, on Dec. 3rd and 8th ; at the Cockle, on Oct. 9th ; 

 and at the South-sand Head, on Sept. 20th. At the Kentish Knock, 

 on Nov. 20th, half-a-dozen small birds came on board at midnight, 

 which, from the written description in the margin, were probably 

 Greenfinches. It is, however, impossible to give even a guess at 

 another species which visited another lightvessel on Sept. 20th, 

 " Fifty very small birds — in fact, the smallest of British birds — 

 like a Sky Lark, but a deal smaller." From the date, they may 

 have been either Titlarks or Flycatchers. 



No rare migrants have been noticed, but this was scarcely to 

 be expected. In this respect the budget of notes supplied by that 

 veteran ornithologist Herr Gatke bears a striking contrast to our 

 east coast reports. On that small island, so favourably situated 

 for observation, Mr. Giitke has trained up quite a host of practical 

 observers, and any rare visitant will have to be very sharp if it 

 succeeds in escaping detection. Quoting from Mr. Gatke's letter 

 dated Dec. 22nd, we have, on Sept. I7th, Sylvia fiiscata, though 

 not got; A7ithiis Richardi on the 18th; A. cervinus on the 20th; 

 Picus leuconotus on the 21st; then some days S.W. with rain and 

 no birds; 26th, calm and clear, Emheriza imsilla ; 27th, E.N.E., 



2 B 



