Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 2 (1878).djvu/71

Rh date—namely, the last week in November—"We had a great many Blackbirds, with a few Thrushes, also Yellowhammers and green Linnets." A few Redwings came in with the early Blackbirds and Thrushes; very few, however, compared with the usual number we see at this season.

Grey Wagtails were in considerable numbers during the last half of September and early in October.

Mr. Gätke, writing November 14th, says, "Wind still S.W., but moderate, and although cloudy there is no rain. During the night there was a great rush of Thrushes, Larks, Lapwings, Robins, and Fire-crested Wrens (both Reguli), intermixed with lots of other birds.*** What do we read out of this? That there is in the north an appearance of winter driving off the rear migration helter-skelter." On our English coast the great bulk of the migrants appear to have come in during the last fortnight in October.

Professor Newton has sent me the following interesting note on the migration of birds along the Norfolk coast near Hunstanton, as witnessed by himself on the morning of October 14th:—"Larks, Starlings, green and brown Linnets were the chief; there were also Chaffinches and three Misletoe Thrushes. All flew steadily in the wind's eye (allowing for the variations of the shore line), pretty nearly due south. I was out from 8.30 to 11, and during that time the passage of the birds first named was nearly continuous; then there seemed to be a pause, and for some hours birds appeared intermittently; but between 3 and 4 in the afternoon the stream was nearly as continuous (though the numbers were certainly smaller) as in the morning. Larks were by far the most numerous; I should say they outnumbered all the rest put together, yet I never saw above six or eight in company."

The most interesting portion of Professor Newton's note refers to thirteen Carrion Crows—a bird not generally considered a migrant. He says, "At first I was inclined to think them Rooks (not long before I had seen seven Rooks coming across the Wash as straight as the wind would allow), but two or three of the party came so close to me that I could be quite certain as to this species. Of course I had binoculars."

The following notes, received through the kindness of correspondents, are from the three principal lighthouse stations on our N.E. coast—namely, Spurn Point, Flamborough, and the Teesmouth. From other stations I have had little worthy of notice.