64 REPORT ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 



character of the 1886 autumn migration, as well as its singularly 

 compressed nature. 



Tumherry. — Andrew Nisbet and William Begg send three 

 well-filled day-to-day schedules. Curiously enough, the " rush" 

 of October — which is quite the feature of our 1886 Beport — is 

 only comparatively emphasised here ; but while the emphasis 

 is moderate, it is also quite equally pronounced when compared 

 with records at the same station. Thus, whilst only 1, 2, or 3 

 birds struck, or were seen at the lantern all through the season, 

 a spring movement was more observable about the 10th Febru- 

 ary; and the autumn migration rush was emphasised by 13 

 birds at the lantern on the famous 5th and 6th October, and 

 5 the following night. Thus, comparatively speaking, the rush 

 was also apparent on that date as elsewhere. All returns at 

 other dates are lioht. 



Corsewall. — An unsigned schedule, well filled and neatly exe- 

 cuted, to hand, dating February 4th to October 29th, shows an 

 early spring migration, also in February, of Starlings, Thrushes, 

 and Larks ; and " a great rush " of Blackbirds, Thrushes, and 

 Larks (both male and female), and Goldcrests, began to strike 

 at 9 p.m., and continued till daylight. A great many killed of 

 all kinds. Upwards of 100 got in the morning. S.E. fresh 

 breeze, fog and rain. Short, sharp, sudden, and vast, as we do 

 not find another entry till 23d. 



Portpatrick. — Mr James Beggs has the remark [which we 

 perfectly agree with, and the reasons for which will shortly 

 appear more decidedly, we believe, when Mr Service treats of 

 the migration of birds in the Solway district, in his intended 

 "Fauna of Solway."— J. A. H.-B.] to the effect that: "The 

 migration of birds again very slight this season. As I remarked 

 to you in my schedule last year, I think it is our prevailing 

 winds from the west which keep the birds inland. You will see 

 in my above notes where the winds are easterly." The easterly 

 winds referred to occur throughout all the dates where any 

 occurrences are recorded, viz., on the 4th and 15th September, 

 October 4th, 5th, to 9th, and January 7th, 1887, at which latter 

 date a " great rush " of Larks, coming from the N. W. and going 

 S.E., is recorded. Again, the October 4th, 5th, and 6th rush 

 is distinctly recorded. Not a single record is entered under a 

 westerly wind. They naturally pick up (catch up) the trend of 



