116 REPORT ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 



Phylloscopus trochilus, Saxicola cenanthe, Pratincola ruhicola, and 

 Hirundo rustica, along with Turdus iliacus, T. pilaris, Scolopax 

 rusticula, and also Turdus musicus, T. merula, and Alauda 

 arvensis, were observed— all at the lanterns, save Hirundo rustica, 

 which occurred during the daytime. The weather prior to this 

 initiatory migration had been severe and unsettled, and the 

 movement was concurrent with the temporary prevalence of 

 favourable conditions {see p. 82) over our Islands. 



The spring immigrants flowed in gently at intervals during 

 April and early May. The only rush recorded was on the 23d 

 of April, when many Wheatears, Warblers, and " Flycatchers " 

 occurred — the movement being especially pronounced at the 

 Nash and the Eddystone : minor barometric depressions and 

 low temperature, the wind being N.E., had prevailed prior to 

 the 23d, on which day more favourable conditions set in, pro- 

 ducing moderate southerly and south-easterly gales, and a rise 

 in the temperature. The immigration of summer visitors ex- 

 tended until the 10th and 11th of May, when Phylloscopus 

 trochilus, Acrocephalus phragmitis, and Sylvia cinerea were killed, 

 and Cypselus apus observed at Langness. Of the transvolant 

 spring migrants, Numenius phceopus was noticed at Langness on 

 the 16th of May. 



August. — The autumnal movements commenced with an 

 emigration of Cuculus canorus, Cypselus apus, and Phylloscopus 

 trochilus, several of which were killed at the Nash lantern on 

 the 1st of August. This was followed by movements of Phyl- 

 loscopus rufa, Turdus torquatus, Sylvia cinerea, Saxicola cenanthe, 

 Anthus trivialis, Motacilla rayi, Cotile riparia, and Cypselus 

 apus, extending from August the 3d to the 9th, and chiefly 

 observed at southerly stations. On the night of the 22d there 

 was a great rush of birds at the Nash, when some hundreds of 

 Acrocephalus phragmitis, Sylvia cinerea, and many Saxicola 

 cenanthe were flying around the lantern from 9 to 10.30 P.M., 

 twenty-nine being killed. Emigrating summer visitors were 

 also observed on the 23d, 27th, and 31st of the month. 



September. — On the 3d there was a decided rush of birds at 

 the Nash, on which Mr Nicholas remarks as follows : — " There 

 was an enormous arrival of small birds, the greatest number 

 ever seen here at any one time." This singular movement 

 lasted from 2.10 a.m. to 3.15 a.m., or a little over an hour, 



