110 REPORT ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 



of the 27th an important migratory movement was taking place 

 at this station: — At 9.50 p.m., Missel Thrushes; at 10 p.m., 

 Bramblings ; at 10.30 p.m., Snipe (four killed) ; at 12.40 A.M., 

 Eedwings (two killed) ; at 2 A.M., Wrens (one captured) ; at 

 2.10 a.m., Bobins, and Black Bedstart killed; and finally at 3 

 A.M., the Bed-winged Starling. The wind prevailing at the time 

 was a strongly easterly breeze ; the weather cloudy, with pass- 

 ing showers of rain. Mr Nicholas is a most careful, intelligent, 

 and painstaking recorder, and shows particular interest in our 

 work, and there is little likelihood of his being mistaken in this 

 matter. As an unbeliever in the unassisted occurrence of 

 extra-Arctic American passerine birds in Europe, I would 

 suggest that this was probably an escape from some vessel 

 approaching the British coast. 



Sturnus vulgaris, L., Starling. — The numbers and the frequency 

 of the occurrence of this species is again manifest in the returns. 

 It is impossible to do more than to refer to the diary portion of 

 the report for particulars. Mr Caton Haigh, in his notes from 

 the X.W. coast of Merioneth, remarks that many of the Starlings 

 wintering there left during the second week of February, large 

 flocks passing over flying due N. On the 26th of June, at 8 

 p.m., an immense flock passed over going S. It looked like a 

 long, narrow stream, half a dozen yards wide and at least half a 

 mile long. 



Pica rustica (Scop.), Magpie. — September 28th, Cardigan Bay 

 L.v., two Magpies flying around the ship at 9.30 A.M. October 

 22d, Langness, a Magpie at 9 A.M. 



Corvus corone, L., Carrion Crow. — April 22d, Carnarvon Bay 

 L.V., six at 8 A.M. going E. April 23d, Chickens Bock, one. 



Corvus frugilegus, L., Book. — Spring : March 23d, Langness, 

 twelve at 9 a.m. 



Autumn : October 20th, Cardigan Bay L.v., one. 



Alauda arvensis, L., Skylark. — Spring : March 23d, Selker 

 L.V., a small party ; 24th, Chickens Bock, great numbers ; 25th, at 

 Bahama Bank and Selker L.v.'s ; 26th, Carnarvon Bay L.v., many. 



Autumn : September 3d, Eddystone in numbers ; afterwards 

 many and often. 



Cypselus apus (L.), Swift. — Spring: April 29th, Carlisle. May 

 9th, N.W. Merioneth ; 11th, Langness, a large flock. June 6th 

 Eddystone, several. 



