20 KEPORT ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 



17tb, when light N.E. At Bell Rock one House Sparrow (female), 

 exhausted, died after feeding on 31st. From the 9th April, when 

 one Bullfinch was seen (and one the day before), scarcely any 

 migration observed until Sept. 3rd — a few records only of " small 

 birds " on April 28th and 30th and May 7th and 9th. At Isle of 

 May a rush ("evidently") of many species, including Tree 

 Sparrows, Bramblings (males), Chaffinches (males, but some 

 females), from the 3rd, and during 4th, 5th and 6th, to 10th. 

 The female Chaffinches came on 6th to 10th, but mixed males 

 and females on the 10th. Tree Sparrows abundant. Rush tailing 

 off, with light returns, on loth, 16th, 17th and 23rd to 30th. In 

 May Grey Linnets are reported to arrive, for the purpose of 

 breeding, at Isle of May on the 29th. Other records run rarely 

 of this species, and only a few intermittent records of birds flying 

 W. or N."W. at Pentland Skerries, and a single bird at Bell Rock 

 between 9th and 30th. One Sparrow (male) on 7th, and two on 

 9th, at Pentland Skerries ; and two Bullfinches, flying W., with 

 strong E.S.E. and haze— the only other May records. In June 

 the last of the Tree Sparrows on 13th at Isle of May, strong S.E., 

 completely ends the spring records, and we do not have another 

 of any Finches till Sept. 8th.* 



In autumn, no records in July or August recorded. Very light 

 in September : two records of Grey Linnets on the 8th at Pent- 

 land Skerries, and of Siskins at Inchkeith on 10th ; latest on 

 Jan. 26th, four Green Linnets. Rushes (or indications) at Pent- 

 land Skerries and Isle of May, between 4th and 7th, of several 

 species ; Grey and Green Linnets, Bramblings, a*id an increase 

 of Chaffinches on 25th and 27th. A rush of Linnets (and Larks) 

 at Inchkeith on 23rd, with light S. breeze ; ' " continuous flocks 

 all day flying round." Most northern records -of Finches in 

 autumn at Sumburgh Head on 12th October. Great rush, 4th 

 November, with many other birds ; wind S. and haze during the 

 night, S.E. in morning, and rain at 10 a.m. ("perfection of 

 weather for visible migration "). Kb 9 p.m., gale from S.W. and 

 heavy rain. Nevertheless, so persistent or so vast was this rush, 

 that, even with W. gales and showers, a few Chaffinches, Tree 

 Sparrows, House Sparrows, and Green Linnets were seen 



;: The bulk of the autunin records will not admit of treatment in cxtenso, 

 as they are heavy, so we will cut them shorter than the spring ones. 



