REPORT ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 



201 



Solan Geese is witnessed. Mr. M'Gill has reported to me 

 speciall}^ on that of 1879, and kept as accurate a record as 

 possible of the numbers wliich he estimated to pass westward. 

 He writes as follows : — " The number of Solan Geese that 

 migrate past Cape Wrath is beyond anyone's power to number, 

 but I have come as near to it as possible. The first half of July 

 the flocks were composed of old birds, and the rest of the time 

 they were mixed old and young." Mr. M'Gill then gives the 

 following list of Solan Geese seen passing west on fifteen days, 

 between 14th July and 9th August, which I reproduce here : — 



July 14th. 



„ 15th. 



„ 16th. 



„ 22nd. 



„ 24lh. 



„ 26th. 



„ 28Lh. 



„ 31st. 

 Aug. 1st. 



„ 3rd. 



„ 4th. 



„ 5th. 



„ 7th. 



„ 8th. 



„ 9th. 



600 to 700. 

 200. 



40 to 90. 

 200 to 400. 

 100 to 200. 

 300 to 400. 



90 to 100. 



60 to 80. 

 100 to 300. 

 300 to 400. 



60 to 70. 



20 to 



40 to 



20 to 



20. 



30. 

 50. 

 40. 



9 a.m. to 8 p.m. 



9 a.m. to 8 p.m. 



J 2 noon to 7 p.m. 



10 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. 



11 a.m. to 7 p.m. 



7 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 



8 a.m. to 6 p.m. 



9 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. 



8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 



9 a.m. to 6 p.m. 



8 a.m. to 7 p.m. 



9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 



Wind E. Clear. 



„ E. Haze. 



„ E. Haze. 

 „ N.-N.E. Fog, rain. 



„ S.W. Clear. 



„ S.W. Haze. 



„ S.W. Haze, rain. 



,, S. Haze, showers. 



,, W. Haze, rain. 



„ E. Clear. 



„ E. Fog, clear. 



„ N.E. Fog, rain. 



„ N. Fog, rain. 



„ N. Fog, rain. 



„ N. Haze. 



Thus it will be seen that from 2150 to 3080 were estimated to 

 pass westward within view of Cape Wrath, between July 14th and 

 August 9th, during fifteen days occupied on migration. All 

 which were observed passed during the day — say between 7 a.m. 

 and 10 p.m. — and apparently in all winds and weather. From 

 the Butt of Lewis Mr. Edgar supplies the general information 

 that the Solan Geese pass the station, arriving first in Ma}', and 

 leaving in the latter end of October, but giving no particulars as 

 to direction of flight. At Mull of Galloway Solan Geese are 

 reported as passing, on July 19th, in flocks. Mr. N. B. Morrison 

 reports as follows : — " Saw them flying past to W.S.W. in wedge- 

 shaped flocks as if on a passage, or changing locality." This was 

 during the forenoon; wind S., light, and haze. "At 1 p.m. it 

 began to rain, and continued for twentj^-four hours ; rain guage 

 at 9 a.m. of 20th, 1*72 inches. On 21st, 22nd, 23rd, and 24th, 



2d 



