Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 4 (1900).djvu/78

52 Cypselus apus.—On May 9th, whilst steaming up the English Channel in very fine weather, at about forty miles from south coast of England, I noticed several parties of Swifts. These birds were evidently migrating, for they flew straight ahead, and were obviously making a "bee-line" for the English coast. They were not, however, flying at any great height.

Hirundo rustica.—I noticed one Swallow also flying in the same way, and in the same direction.

On May 10th, whilst traversing the North Sea between Dover and the mouth of the Elbe, with coast of Holland just in sight, a Pipit (Anthus sp.) came on board.

Corvus cornix.—At dusk on the same day, when about midway between Heligoland and the German coast, a Hooded Crow alighted in the rigging of the foremast. After dark the third officer climbed up and caught this bird, which I should have otherwise not have been able to identify.

Saxicola œnanthe.—On May 17th, when about half-way between the mouth of the Elbe and Dover on the return journey, a Wheatear came on board of us, evidently very much tired.

Turtur communis and Anthus pratensis.—On May 21st, at the entrance to the Bay of Biscay, but a long way from Ushant, a Turtle-Dove, a Meadow-Pipit, and a Swallow came on board the ship, and remained all day. On May 22nd, being now about two-thirds of the way across the Bay, a second Turtle-Dove and a second Swallow joined those mentioned above, and later a Sand Martin (Cotile riparia) also put in an appearance. They all remained by the ship, and at dusk the hands going aloft drove the Turtle-Doves from their roosting-place on the fore main topsail-yard, and one of them, passing over the funnel, became suffocated, and was engulfed in it. On May 23rd, when we neared the Portuguese coast, all the birds left us.

The above are the few notes I was able to make of land birds coming on board the ship whilst I was in the steamship 'Anselm.'

Whilst serving in H.M.S. 'Repulse,' I have, I fear, not made very many notes, and for this there are several reasons. In the first place, this ship is one of a fleet, and when there are fourteen ships together, as is generally the case, there are obviously thirteen chances to one against a bird alighting on board of us. In the second place, this is a very large ship—one of the biggest