SIXTH KEPOET: 



ON 



THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS 



IN THE 



SPEING AND AUTUMN OF 1884. 



OCEAN NOTES. 



Thanks again to Messrs. Gray and Anderson, I have some 

 interesting items of migration to record, taken by the latter 

 gentleman on board the steamship * Marathon ' in the Atlantic. 

 These are best given in extenso ; and land-notes will be given 

 after the paragraphs on each species or group. 



Steamship 'Marathon, 1 outward bound from Liverpool, 

 April 16th, 1884. 



April 17th. — A small bird came on board at 7 p.m., 15 miles 

 from nearest land. (Position of ship at noon, Queenstown). 

 Wind easterly for ten hours previous, and was increasing to 

 moderate gale from E.N.E. when the bird was seen. From the 

 description of this bird it can scarcely have been other than a 

 Whinchat or Stonechat. No Petrels.* 



April 18th. — At 7 p.m., another, precisely the same species as 

 yesterday's, 310 miles from land ; not caught. Eight Kittiwakes 

 and four Manx Shearwaters. Wind light E. all day. (Position 

 of ship at noon, lat. 51° N., long. 15° 47' W.). No Petrels. 



April 19th. — Two Kittiwakes all day, till 580 miles from land. 



* The lat. and long, give the ship's position at noon each day. 



B 



