66 REPORT ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 



significant record of the Golden-crested Wren at Ehinns of 

 Islay on Oct. 10th, and at Corsewall and stations to the south, 

 but nowhere to the north of the former station. Now, it seems 

 that the strong easterly to S.E. gales on our E. coast, which 

 brought over such streams (rather than rushes) of birds, — such 

 countless thousands, — did not carry them forward across the 

 breadth of Scotland to any appreciable extent, but that the birds, 

 tired and storm-tossed, rapidly sought rest and shelter on arrival ; 

 and that we have only on the W. coast indications that such a 

 great stream broke upon the E. coast. These indications, how- 

 ever, are strong enough to enable us to mark out, with some 

 degree of certainty, the lines and turning-points of the stream. 



If we do this, by comparing the records of the various 

 schedules, we find that, south of the Firth of Clyde, the records 

 bulk most largely ; and we also find that the dates agree with 

 those of the E. coast. 



MacArthur's Head and Ehinns of Islay appear to me, from 

 the bulking of records, similarity of dates, continuance of light 

 E. winds, and. species occurring, to represent the turning-point 

 of the autumn migration from E. to W. Ehinns of Islay is a 

 salient angle, catching glimpses of passing birds from N.W. to 

 S.E. Otherwise, if the strong gales did not cause all birds to 

 drop for shelter on Scotland, it must have carried many far out 

 over the Atlantic, as in 1880. Isle of May sends in 19 schedules, 

 and Pentland Skerries 8. Bell Eock sends 2 — thickly filled — 

 and North Eonaldshay 3, but bulking less than Bell Eock. What 

 has become of the many birds passing through the Pentland 

 Firth ? We find little indication of them at the nine northerly 

 W. coast stations. Have many overshot the land and passed out 

 over the Atlantic ? 



Another point worth noting, is the occurrence of many birds 

 in spring at the same stations frequented by the species in 

 autumn. Thus, at Mull of Galloway on March 8th and 9th, 

 with westerly winds. Gold-crests were abundant, and at the same 

 station on Oct. 15th and 16th, an autumn-rush took place, with 

 easterly and N.E. wind and haze. The same double records 

 occur at Bell Eock and Isle of May as regards many species, and 

 especially Tiirdidce and Regidus cristatus. This " returning " 

 upon old lines has already been remarked upon by my colleague, 

 Mr. J. Cordeaux, in our Third Eeport (p. 38). Since these last 



