78 REPORT ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 



beard at St Bees, and numbers of Whin chats and Redstarts 

 were captured at the lantern of the Shambles light- vessel. 



May. — On the 3d the depression which prevailed during the 

 earliest days of the month passed away, and variable breezes, 

 with fair weather in some places and local showers in others, 

 prevailed until the 5th. On the 3d and 4th, extraordinary 

 rushes of summer immigrants occurred at the Eddystone and 

 Nash stations (and at Helwick on the 4th), when Wheatears, 

 Whitethroats, Sedge Warblers, Willow Wrens, Wood Warblers, 

 Blackcaps, Beed Warblers, Bedstarts, Bied Flycatchers, and 

 Swallows were killed — some in considerable numbers — at the 

 lanterns. On the 16th and 18th, in varying weather, there 

 were arrivals of summer and transient birds at the S.W. stations. 

 Conditions afterwards were most unsettled until the 24th, the 

 weather being wretchedly cold and rough. The only bird recorded 

 during this period was the Swift — a species associated in some 

 districts in England with such unsettled meteorological condi- 

 tions. On the 25th a high-pressure system appeared, with 

 northerly and easterly winds, though dull and cold for the time 

 of the year. From this date to the end of the month there were 

 continuous arrivals of summer birds, and many Sandpipers and 

 Blovers passed the Eddystone on their way to the far north. 



June. — The returns for this month are quite unimportant. 



August — The first movement from the breeding habitats was 

 recorded for the 4th, when Curlews were noted at Menai, the 

 Scarweather L.V., and at Bideford Bar. On the 11th, Whimbrel 

 arrived, and, along with Willow Warblers, Sedge Warblers, and 

 Whitethroats, struck against the Nash lantern. The weather 

 entirely broke up on the 15th, and thunderstorms began to 

 prevail. The 19th and 20th were very cold, and at night slight 

 ground frosts occurred in several localities. During this spell 

 of rough weather a number of summer birds were recorded as 

 emigrating — Swifts, Swallows, Martins, Warblers, Flycatchers, 

 and Land Bails. The weather then mended, and became fine 

 and hot, and little migration appears to be recorded for the 

 latter days of the month. 



September. — The month commenced with a period of very 

 rough weather, south-westerly and westerly gales blowing with 

 great force in the Channel and on our South-West Coasts. On 

 the passing, away of this severe disturbance, a series of smaller 



