26 REPORTS. 



not from sunset to sunrise to let the neighbours know of the 

 fact. Ou some people the note of the Corncrake has a jarring 

 effect, just as the shrilling of grasshoppers has, and I suppose 

 my friend belonged to this number. 



In recent years the growing scarcity of this summer 

 visitor has been commented upon in these reports, and one 

 could not help wondering if the covering over of so much land 

 with glass and dwelling houses and the consequent breaking 

 up of the open spaces had anything to do with it. Whether 

 or not this is the cause as regards Guernsey, the fact remains 

 that large districts in England have also experienced a marked 

 falling offin numbers for some years, but it is now interesting 

 to note, in connection with the bigger number visiting Guern- 

 sey this year, that a much greater influx has also been 

 observed in the east of England. 



Of the Swallow tribe observers are unanimously of the 

 opinion that there has been a very marked falling off in 

 numbers this season ; even the Swift, which in recent sum- 

 mers has been coming amongst us in bigger companies, has 

 not been so plentiful this year. And as regards the departure 

 of the Swallow (Hi r undo rustica) and House Martin (Hirundo 

 urbic(i) it is interesting to note that the fine, sunny and mild 

 autumn experienced bad no effect in lengthening their stay 

 with us — indeed the observations all tend to show that they 

 left us even earlier than usual, and, personally, I saw no con- 

 gregating of the birds on the telegraph wires a little previous 

 to their departure as it is so customary for us to do. 



Interesting experiments in connection with the migration 

 of birds are in progress at various lighthouses including that 

 at St. Catherine's in the Isle of Wight, and the Casquets in 

 our own immediate neighbourhood. The pitiable destruction 

 of bird life at the lighthouses during the great migration 

 seasons owing to the magnetic attraction of the light on the 

 little travellers, has been claiming the attention of a well- 

 known Dutch ornithologist, Professor Thigsse. This bird- 

 lover has invented a system of parching rods which, fixed to 

 the lanterns, are intended to afford temporary resting places 

 for the often very exhausted birds which, hypnotised by the 

 bright light, and finding no foothold, circle round and round 

 the lantern, like moths round a candle, and finally fall 

 exhausted into the sea. The experiments, Ave hear, have been 

 tried with marked success at Brandaois lighthouse on the 

 coast of Holland, and it is extremely gratifying to know that 

 the Elder Brethren of Trinity House have given permission to 

 the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 



