94 REPORT ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 



as Monach Isle (though only upper white flash, and lower, red 

 fixed) gives better, though uncertain, returns, and Skerryvore 

 (white revolving) and Dhuheartach (white and red sector, fixed), 

 and Rhinns of Islay (white flash every five seconds) seem to be 

 the surest stations north of Clyde. Indeed it is, perhaps, 

 almost certain that most of the land-locked stations of the West 

 Coast should be marked with the symbol of lowest value, V. 

 South of Clyde, undoubtedly, we get more into the great groove 

 of migration which crosses Scotland from the Firth of Forth, 

 and if not yet so heavy as, for instance, at the Bell Rock, 

 Isle of May, in all the years till 1884, yet we have more 

 decided indications of rushes and throbs keeping time with 

 the East Coast movements. When to this we add a less 

 indented coast line, open lights, and, on the whole, greater 

 power and brilliancy, we expect to find all the conditions more 

 favourable. That this is the case our schedules for 1884 show 

 decidedly, and even swamp the East Coast returns for the first 

 time in our experience. When we come to the Isle of Man, 

 where the Irish Channel contracts considerably, we again find 

 heavy rushes of birds, equalling or exceeding those at such 

 stations as Skerryvore and Dhuheartach and Rhinns of Islay. 

 Of these Langness sends the heaviest returns, but we have there 

 now a trained reporter, Mr. Robert Clyne, who was previously 

 under Mr. Agnew at the Isle of May. Mr. Clyne's eager applica- 

 tion to the subject now stands us in good stead. 



The reason in 1884 for the contrary of the usual rule, viz., 

 that East Coast stations of Isle of May and Bell Rock usually 

 giving heavier returns than the West Coast stations S. of Clyde, is 

 not far to seek for. The heaviest rushes . at Isle of Man, and all 

 down the West Coast S. of Clyde, occurred between the 15th to 

 21st and 26th October (see under Chickens Rock especially), 

 while at Isle of May, Firth of Forth, no great movements of birds 

 were visible. The winds on East Coast of Scotland were N. and 

 E., and rarely W., but at Isle oLMan and West Coast southerly 

 and westerly. The migration on East Coast was pressed down 

 on to the East English Coast by northerly winds. But on the 

 West Coast birds travelled with light arid most favourable winds, 

 concentrating their forces at the central and commanding 

 stations of the Isle of Man. We regret we have no returns 

 from the other Isle of Man stations. I hope the men are not 



