48 REPORT ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 



General Eemarks. 



The observations taken along the E. coast of England in the 

 spring and autumn of 1882 have been such as to confirm the 

 conclusions arrived at in previous reports. 



As in 1880 and 1881, the line of autumn migration has been 

 a broad stream from E. to W., or from points S. of E. to N. of 

 W., covering the whole of the E. coast. In 1880 a considerable 

 proportion of the immigrants crossed at the more southern 

 stations; in 1881 they covered the whole of the E. coast in 

 tolerably equal proportions ; but in 1882 the stations N. of the 

 Humber show a marked preponderance of arrivals. 



Although migration has extended over an unusually long 

 period, commencing in July and continued with but slight inter- 

 mission throughout the autumn and into the following year to 

 the end of January, yet the great mass of immigrants arrived on 

 our E. coast in October, and a large proportion of these during 

 the first fortnight in the month. From Oct. 6th to 8th, inclusive, 

 and again from the 12th to the 15th there was, night and day, 

 an enormous rush, under circumstances of wind and weather, 

 which observation has shown are most opposed to a favourable 

 passage. During these periods birds arrived in an exhausted 

 condition, and we have reasons for supposing, from the number 

 reported as alighting on fishing-boats and vessels in the North 

 Sea, that the loss must have been very considerable ; large 

 flights also are recorded as having appeared round the lanterns 

 of lighthouses and light-vessels during the night migration. 

 From the 6th to the 9th, inclusive, strong E. winds blew over 

 the North Sea, with fog and drizzling rain, and from the night 

 of the 12 to 17th very similar weather prevailed. Mr. W. Little- 

 wood, of the Galloper l.v., moored on the bank of that name 

 forty miles S.E. of Orfordness, reports that on the night of Oct. 

 6th, Larks, Starlings, Mountain Sparrows, Titmice, Common 

 Wrens, Kedbreasts, Chaffinches and Plover were picked up on 

 the deck, and that it is calculated five to six hundred struck the 

 rigging and fell overboard ; a large proportion of these were 

 Larks. Thousands of birds were flying round the lantern from 

 11.30 p.m. to 4.45 a.m., their white breasts, as they dashed to 



