56 REPORT ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 



In the latter part of February and throughout March there 

 are indications of the passage of Crows, Eooks, Daws, Starlings, 

 Larks, and others to the Continent, also in the opposite direc- 

 tion to the S.E. Coast of England. Great numbers of Starlings, 

 Thrashes, and Larks were also observed at the lanterns at night, 

 the particular direction of their flight being not apparent. 



A Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) is recorded at the Cockle L.v. 

 on March 31st, after which the first actual indication of the 

 Spring migration is the occurrence of. Swifts (Cypsehis apus) at 

 the Spurn on April 5th, arriving at 6 p.m., and resting on the 

 window sills all night ; on the same day at Great Cotes several 

 male Wheatears were seen. The Spring migration of the 

 Wheatear (Saxicola cenanthe) is last recorded at the Farn l.h\ 

 on the night of May 30th, several round the lantern; and at 

 the Tees L.v. on June 5th, two to N.W. 



Puffins {Fratercula arctica) arrived at their breeding quarters 

 on the Farn Islands on March 30th, a very early date. Continuous 

 flocks with Wild Ducks were seen at the Outer Dowsing L.v. on 

 April 12th, going S.S.E. ; at the same date a Woodcock was 

 killed at the Swin L.v. The Swallow (Hirundo rustica) is first 

 seen at the Galloper L.v. on April 11th, going N.W. Many at 

 the Hanois l.h., Guernsey, on the same day, with Willow Wrens 

 and Whitethroats. At the Ship wash l.v., Swallows were 

 observed at intervals passing from S.E. to BT.W. up to June 

 4th. 



Snow Buntings (Plectrophanes nivalis) were last seen at the 

 Spurn on April 20th. The Cuckoo is first recorded at the Isle 

 of Thanet on April 24th, and the Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla 

 rail) on the 25th. 



There appears to have been a heavy rush of the smaller 

 summer visitants on the S.E. coast, from the Isle of Thanet to 

 Hunstanton, at early morning of the 29th of April. A very 

 strongly pronounced movement was also observed at Hanois 

 l.h., Guernsey, on May 2d. The weather, in the first instance, 

 being rainy and unsettled in S.E., and very cold over England 

 with KE. winds. On the 30th, thunderstorm in S.W. of France, 

 with very cold, unsettled, and rainy weather generally in the 

 south. 



Various shorebirds and waders were observed passing down 

 the coast from S. to N"., on May 12 th and subsequently. 



