398 ON THE MIGEATION OF THE 
jecture received strong and satisfactory confirmation in the 
autumn of 1822, when I had the satisfaction of witness- 
ing their arrival upon the coast, fatigued and spent by their 
distant and, for so diminutive and to appearance dehcate a 
bird, almost incredible flight. This happened after a se- 
vere gale, which commenced on the 24th of October 1822, 
at NE., and continued during the whole of the 25th; but 
which, for some hours previous to its conclusion, veered 
about to the E. and S. of E. On the morning of the 26th 
they were seen to arrive by hundreds upon the beach, so 
fatigued ar d overcome by the unfavourable change of wind, 
the lengtn of their journey, or both combined, as to drop 
the moment they reached land, unable to make any further 
exertions. Great numbers were in consequence at first taken 
by the hand, unable to rise or escape their pursuers. Some 
idea may be formed of the incredible numbers which came 
over in this flight, furnished in all probability by the forests 
of the northern parts of Europe, when I mention that I 
have traced it to have extended from beyond Berwick 
northwards, along the whole line of coast as far as Whitby 
in Yorkshire ; but how much farther to the north or south 
of these points I have not yet ascertained. 
With the same gale we received a great importation of 
Redwings and Fieldfares, and a very abundant flight of 
Woodcocks, all known as emigrants from the northern 
parts of Europe ; but none of these appeared to have suf- 
fered from fatigue to the same extent as their diminutive 
companions. As soon as they were a httle recovered from 
the efl*ects of their distant flight, they spread themselves 
over the country adjoining the coast, and at first filled 
every hedge and plantation ; but they appeared still desir- 
ous to move southwards, and their numbers rapidly and 
daily decreased ; and I remarked that, about Christmas, 
scarcely more than the annual average quantity remained. 
