Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 1 (1897).djvu/153

Rh after daybreak, while perhaps the flight goes on all through the day. Ornithological migration on the Norfolk coast is an east to west one in autumn.

I think it may be gathered from Mr. W.E. Clarke's valuable 'Digest of the Observations on the Migrations of Birds' that the feathered pilgrims often cross England, and even go to Ireland, before they turn south. Then the direction of flight of these birds, which may have followed the sun in its course from Russia and Asia, is entirely reversed, though in one or two instances misguided Rooks and Starlings have been seen still flying westwards, even from the western coasts of Ireland.

The number of Rooks, Grey Crows, Jackdaws, and Starlings which arrive in Norfolk every autumn is very large, though nothing like the quantities which pass Heligoland (H. Gätke), and with them come regiments of small birds. Occasionally an old Crow, too hungry to wait until he gets to land, catches a Chaffinch en route (cf. Zool. xi. p. 4124), but generally there is harmony. This mixing up of small and great was noticed in our county as long ago as 1660, and is evident still, though there are far fewer Teal and Hawks than there were in Sir T. Browne's day. Of all months there are none for Norfolk, Suffolk, and Lincolnshire like the month of October, which brings not only the largest variety of species, but also the largest number of individuals in any period of the year. More birds pass our eight lightships in that month than in any other. Although I have had nearly seventy species, or at least their wings, from these and other lanterns, there has never been a House Sparrow among them, neither did Mr. Booth or Mr. Cordeaux ever procure one on our coast. As the past autumn was a remarkable one for migration, it was a good thing that Mr. G. Newbegin consented, at my request (stimulated by Mr. Bray's curious observations made in Surrey), to take observations of the sun and full moon at the Norwich Observatory, and he also developed several photographs in the hope of catching birds in the act of passing these luminaries; but none crossed the telescope. This is the only way in which we can establish the altitudes at which migratory birds fly, but at present nothing has passed to confirm H. Gätke's views. Nevertheless I believe them to be perfectly correct, for twenty-five years ago I had exceptional eyesight, and have occasionally, by