6 REPORT ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 



May. Numbers of Blackbirds, Thrushes, and Missel Thrushes 

 frequented N. Ronaldshay for three days after this date. At the 

 northern stations, wind strong S.E. ; at Isle of May, N.E. gale. A 

 vast rush of many species took place, commencing on Oct. 8th, and 

 continued till about the 18th in force at all the stations sending 

 in returns, except Auskerry. We will speak fully of this move- 

 ment in this place, and afterwards will refer back to it under 

 other species. Migration general over whole coast-line. Wind 

 during that time was N.E. to S.E. to E., with fog and rain; on 

 the 16th S. at southern stations, and generally S.E. over all the 

 coast. But at Pentland Skerries, mod. S. and S.W. on 10th, 

 11th, and 13th. The rush here on 12th was, however, with 

 S.S.E. fresh, and fog. At N. Eonaldshay, on 7th — 8th, numbers 

 of Thrushes were seen coming from the S.E., and more continued 

 coming till the 16th, all the time with strong S.E. wind. On 

 16th wind changed to S., and all left. All stations send in 

 heavy returns ; but the heaviest is from Isle of May, and 

 hundreds were seen at Bell Rock on the l'2th — 14th. A desultory 

 migration, with frequent rushes, was kept up all October ; also 

 all November, the following dates bulking largest, viz., Nov. 5th, 

 9th, 12th, 18th, and 27th, the northerly stations of Sumburgh 

 Head and Pentland Skerries having during this month heavier 

 returns on the whole than the more southerly ones. Wind during 

 this time at Sumburgh Head fresh W., when fifty Redwings 

 appeared on 5th. But at same place, light N.N.E. on 9th, when 

 thirty Redwings were seen. On 27th, at same place, twenty-five 

 Redwings were seen flying S.W., with wind fresh W. ; and at 

 Isle of May, on 18th, several flocks of Fieldfares and Ring Ouzels 

 — which usually appear here together — appeared with fresh S. 

 breeze. All during the intermediate time between the above 

 dates migration was carried on. In December the same con- 

 tinued, but in diminishing numbers; and an indication of a 

 small rush occurred between the 6th and 12th, but this appeai*ed 

 to be greatly due to N.E. gales accompanied by snow-storms and 

 severe frost on the mainland, causing local migration, as is partly 

 evident from the species accompanying them, such as Larks, &c., 

 and the exhausted and emaciated appearance, especially of the 

 Redwings, even on the Isle of May. Between the 15th and 31st, 

 at Auskerry, a great flock of Buntings was seen daily. In 

 January large flocks were seen from 4th on to date of last entries 



