58 REPORT ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 



milder. The average temperature of the month was much 

 colder than the corresponding months in the two preceding years. 

 It does not appear that the change of weather and of the wind 

 after the 25th, had any influence on the migratory movements, 

 birds continuing to pour in with undiminished numbers. In- 

 deed, the direction and force of the wind appears to have little 

 to do in controlling these great autumnal rushes, for when 

 the time for crossing the North Sea has come, birds cross 

 independent of weather. It must be admitted, however, that 

 the prevailing wind at the time is an important factor in 

 governing the direction in which migrants travel, and the angle 

 at which the line of flight will intersect the line of coast. To 

 changes of temperature either sudden or gradual, rather than 

 the force and direction of winds, we must probably look for the 

 impelling cause. of these seasonal phenomena. 



After the 3d and to the 19th of November, birds continued 

 to arrive, but in greatly reduced numbers, the throbs and pulsa- 

 tions of the great inrush becoming daily more feeble and less 

 sustained. After this date to the end of the year, migration was 

 more or less spasmodic, the entries in the schedules being chiefly 

 confined to the occurrences of various birds seen in the vicinity 

 of the stations. 



Swans and Grey Geese have been remarkably scarce. Brent 

 Geese (Bernida brenta) fairly numerous. All accounts agree 

 that it has been an extraordinary Duck year, large numbers of 

 various species frequenting all favourable localities along the 

 East Coast. The Common Scoter (CEdemia nigra) has occurred 

 in enormous flocks, also a few (E. fusca. Considerable numbers 

 of the Long-Tailed Duck (Harelda glacialis) have visited the 

 coast from the Farn Islands to Yarmouth. 



Amongst the rarer and more interesting species we may 

 notice the occurrences of Tringa temmincki (three) at the Spurn, 

 also Podiceps nigricollis at the same place. Anthus richardi at 

 Tetney. Cypsehts melba, Pecurvirostra avocetla, and Tringa 

 maculata at Yarmouth, also Pandion haliaetus at the Cromer 

 lighthouse. 



It is unfortunate that we do not know more about those 

 smaller night wanderers which are usually entered in our 

 schedules under the general name " Flycatchers " or " various 

 small birds." The wings occasionally forwarded are always 



