Falconidæ.—Circus, Harrier, Redcar, Sept. 21st, six on Tees Breakwater. Buzzards or "very large Hawks," Spring, Farn L.H., March 10th, "one large Hawk, feeding on Blackbird"; May 18th, large Hawk; June 18th, very large Hawk, driving the Terns from their nesting-place; also on 19th. Autumn, from Sept. 6th to Jan. 12th, 1884, numerous Buzzards, and "very large Hawks" are recorded at ten stations between the Farn Islands and Yarmouth; the majority between Sept. 6th and Oct. 20th. There appears to have been a rush of the larger Falconidæ on Sept. 21st. At the Spurn L.H., on Sept. 21st, two Common Buzzards; 14th, 1 a.m., Honey Buzzard caught against lantern, and another on 17th, shot near Kilnsea. Farn L.H., 23rd, one very large Hawk, "back and wings dark brown, belly greyish white, beak slate-colour." Whitby L.H., Jan. 12th, 8.30. a.m., one very large Hawk, "dark colour, with long, square tail, the largest I have ever seen." Accipiter nisus, Sparrowhawk, numerous through September and to Oct. 14th, and after this in less numbers to Nov. 20th; rush, Sept. 21st, with other Falconidæ. Heligoland, Rough-legged Buzzard, Oct. 12th and 13th, one each day; Nov. 2nd, some; 19th, four to six. Sea Eagle, Haliaëtus albicilla, Sept. 21st, some. Sparrowhawks, from Sept. 21st to Nov. 1st.; Oct. 4th, first old birds. As a rule Sparrowhawks pass late in the afternoon. Peregrine Falcon, Oct. 12th, a few. Kestrel and others, Sept. 22nd, "more than ever, with Sparrowhawks and Merlins."

Phalacrocorax carbo, Cormorant.—Tees L.V., March 7th, flock of twenty-five; 24th, fifty.

Sula bassana, Gannet.—Spring, Farn L.V., Feb. 25th, many going N. Longstone L.H., March 22nd to April 15th, daily to N., and from this date every day till May 30th, never more than nine in a flock; great numbers of young also seen off Farn Islands, Redcar and Whitby, first three weeks, in October, generally moving in northerly directions. Redcar, Oct. 26th and 31st and Nov. 2nd and 10th, great numbers to S.E. Hanois L.H. (Guernsey), Nov. 24th, all day passing.

Ardea cinerea, Heron.—Languard L.H., June 25th, a pair very high to S.W., and several seen off Farn L.H. in August.

Botaurus stellaris, Bittern.—Early in January, 1884, a Bittern was shot near Thornton College, North Lincolnshire, and two others are reported as seen.

Anser, Geese.—Languard L.H., March 11th, sixteen Grey Geese, very high to S.W. Whitby L.H., June 20th, nineteen going N., and on July 8th, 5 p.m., a large flock from N. to S.W. Redcar, Sept. 21st, twelve Grey Geese to E.; and at some stations also in October and November, having probably reference to change of feeding-ground. A large flock of Brent Geese, Bernicla brenta, were seen off the Farn Islands on March 23rd, at 6 p.m., and in the autumn a few on Sept. 26th, at the Tees L.V.

Cygnus, Swans.—At Tees L.V., March 25th, one. Outer Dowsing L.V., 14th, three from N.W. to E.S.E. Spurn, May 13th, three to S.; and on 15th, two in Humber. Llyn Wells L.V., Sept. 16th, three to W.S.W. It is possible all these may have reference to escapes or strays from private waters.

Tadorna cornuta, Common Sheldrake.—Tees L.V., Jan. 13th, flock of three hundred. "Never saw so many together before." Nov. 28th, flock of about one hundred.

Mareca penelope, Wigeon.—Redcar, Aug. 20th, two flocks; Sept. 20th, flock of one hundred Teal at sea. Farn L.H., Dec. 12th, hundreds of Wild Duck, Anas boschas, off island.

Harelda glacialis, Long-tailed Duck.—Farn L.H., March 8th, "flock of fifty to sixty off island." On Oct. 23rd, at Kilnsea, near the Spurn, I shot a mature female Hareld from a flooded meadow. The stomach contained a mass of small red worms and minute stones.

Somateria mollissima, Eider Duck.—Farn L.H., Nov., "hundreds of Eiders, drakes and ducks, with young birds, flying and swimming about the island every day this month." In December six were shot on Breydon Water, Norfolk. The King Eider, Somateria spectabilis, was again, as in the last two years, seen at the Farn Islands, in company with the Common Eider, in April.

Œdemia nigra, Common Scoter.—Gull L.V., Aug. 19th to Sept. 11th, great numbers going S.W.

Columba palumbus, Ring Dove.—Farn L.H., Sept. 24th, one. Stock Dove, C. ænas.—On Oct. 25th, at Kilnsea, near the Spurn, I saw one come in direct from the sea and pitch in a field on the cliff top. Heligoland, C. palumbus, Sept. 30th, some; Oct. 4th, flights, forty to fifty; 13th and 15th, passing on; 31st, many.

Rallus aquaticus, Water Rail.—Farn L.H., Oct. 30th, S., foggy, three at daylight; Nov. 2nd, one at noon, to land; Galloper, 3rd, one (wing to J. H. G.) Hasbro' L.H., Dec. 9th, S.W., one struck.

Crex pratensis, Corn Crake.—Farn L.H., May 1st, 3 p.m., N.E., one; 23rd, 2 p.m., one. Whitby, 11th, first heard. Winterton L.H., Aug. 10th, midnight, one struck. Spurn L.H., Sept. 15th, one; Hunstanton L.H., Oct. 8th, one struck and caught alive.

Œdicnemus scolopax, Stone Curlew.—Heligoland, Aug. 15th.

Charadrius pluvialis, Golden Plover.—Farn L.H., July 27th, five to E., and on Aug. 20th, flock to W.; numerous on island through August and September, moving to and from the mainland. At the Spurn on Aug. 29th, a large flock to N.[22]; and at Wells, Norfolk, Aug. 27th, in small parties on mud. Heligoland, July. 16th, one young bird shot; Aug. 21st to 24th, young birds; 16th and 17th, great flights, all young; 29th, great flights; night Oct. 31st to Nov. 1st, "whole atmosphere gloomy darkness, Curlew, Lapwing, Tringa, Snipe, Woodcock, but no Golden Plover." Dec. 4th, N.E. (No. 8 or 9), snow-storm. Woodcocks and Golden Plover.

Squatarola helvetica, Grey Plover.—Spurn, June 7th, 11 a.m., N.E., flocks along coast. Hasbro' L.V., Nov. 1st, four killed. Tees L.V., Dec. 13th, large flock.

Vanellus vulgaris, Lapwing.—Spring, Cockle L.V., March 8th, large flocks to S.W. Autumn, Yarmouth, Oct. 6th, large flocks in afternoon from sea; 30th, Hasbro' L.V., great rush; Whitby L.H., Nov. 15th, 16th and 17th, flights each day, south-westerly gale; also at Hunstanton L.H. on 16th, to S.W., from daylight to noon.

Strepsilas interpres, Turnstone.—Yarmouth, Aug. 11th, young birds to S. Farn L.H., 14th, large flocks at noon. Redcar, 31st, large flock near Teesmouth, fresh arrivals.

Hæmatopus ostralegus, Oystercatcher.—Llyn Wells L.V., Jan. 7th, 1884, one killed (J. H. G.).

Phalaropus hyperboreus, Red-necked Phalarope.—Yarmouth, Oct. 24th, one shot.

Scolopax rusticula, Woodcock.—Flamborough L.H., April 6th, struck and killed. Two or three occurred at Teesmouth (Redcar), last week in August, and a few in September. At Seaton Snook and Flamborough on Sept. 21st. The "first flight" was on the Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Norfolk coasts, on the night of Oct. 21st, wind N.E. The "great flight," or rush, on the nights of Oct. 28th and 29th, covering the whole of the E. coast, from the Farn Islands to Yarmouth, the bulk coming probably into the Humber district. A friend wrote me he had shot eighteen on the morning of 29th, and might easily have doubled this number if he had started early enough. From the 2nd to the 10th of November stragglers continued to arrive between the Farn Islands and Yarmouth. Heligoland, Sept. 22nd, first; Oct. 22nd, one hundred caught or shot; 28th, astounding passage of Larks, Starlings, Peewits, Snipes and Woodcocks; Oct. 30th, twenty to thirty shot; 31st, ten to twenty shot; 31st to Nov. 1st, thirteen caught, a few stragglers to December 4th.[23]

Gallinago major, Great Snipe.—N. E. Lincolnshire, Oct. 2nd, one shot; Yarmouth, same date, one.

G. cælestis, Common Snipe.—Yarmouth, Aug. 11th, several. Great Cotes, Sept. 25th, first considerable flight, wind S.E. night of 24th, with gale and heavy rain. Hasbro' L.H., Nov. 8th, two struck and killed. Heligoland, Oct. 22nd, great flight; 28th, night, immense.

Limnocryptes gallinula, Jack Snipe.—Farn. L.H., Sept. 21st, S.E., noon, two. Galloper L.V., Nov. 3rd, one (J. H. G.) Llyn Wells L.V., 7th, one (J. H. G.)

Tringa alpina, Dunlin.—Languard L.H., March 10th, 7.40 a.m., very large flock, very rapidly to N. T. minuta, Little Stint, Bridlington, Aug. 3rd, two seen (W. E. C.), and at Yarmouth, second week in September, three.[24]

T. subarquata, Curlew Sandpiper.—Essex coast, August 1st, Colonel Russell shot three from a flock of Oxbirds; they were in partial moult; another was seen.

T. striata, Purple Sandpiper.—Farn L.H., May 15th, 6 p.m., S.S.E., very large flock flying over island; and at the same station, on Nov. 28th, very large flocks of Turnstone, Purple Sandpiper and Redshank. Yarmouth, Oct. 5th, five seen.

T. canutus, Knot.—Spurn, June 13th, flock arrived from S. The first Knots in the autumn were seen at Yarmouth and Redcar on Aug. 11th, and by the end of the month were tolerably numerous along the east coast. Llyn Wells L.V., Sept. 22nd, N.N.E., large flocks to S. all day; at this station also, from Oct. 20th to Jan. 6th, 1884, twenty-eight were killed against the lantern.[25]

Machetes pugnax, Ruff.—Yarmouth, second week in September, five ruffs and one reeve.

Calidris arenaria, Sanderling.—Flamborough, Aug. 3rd, old male in summer plumage (W. E. C.). Yarmouth, 11th, Knots and Sanderlings on beach. Spurn, Oct. 23rd, a few.

Totanus glareola, Wood Sandpiper.—Bridlington, middle of August, a young bird was shot on South Sands (W. E. C.). Spurn, middle of September, three, all immature, taken to Mr. P. Lawton, of Easington.

T. calidris, Redshank.—Outer Dowsing L.V., May 9th, one "Red-legged Sandpiper" on deck, then to W. Wells, Norfolk, Aug. 28th, numerous; one hundred or more in a flock. Tees L.V., Sept. 23rd, large flock. Farn L.V., Nov. 28th, very large flocks with Purple Sandpiper and Turnstone on rocks. T. fuscus, Spotted Redshank, Breydon, Oct. 20th, one shot.

T. canescens, Greenshank.—Wells, Norfolk, Aug. 27th, "comparatively numerous." Yarmouth, Aug. 9th, four shot, all immature. Sept. 2nd, two.

Limosa lapponica, Bar-tailed Godwit.—Redcar, July 28th, and forward to Aug. 27th, in some numbers.

Numenius phæopus, Whimbrel.—Redcar, July 18th, N.E. light, first passing over, very high. Yarmouth, Aug. 1st, all day. Redcar, 8th, S.W. strong, two large flocks of fifty; 23rd and 24th, rush, and at intervals to Sept. 10th.

N. arquata, Curlew.—Farn L.H., March 11th, 5 to 6 p.m., four to five hundred to island from mainland in flocks from five to thirty. Whitby L.H., June 20th, great many night and day. Winterton L.H., Sept. 10th, 12.30 a.m., one caught beating against lantern, great many during night to W. Farn L.H., Nov. 17th, large flock to E. Hasbro' L.V., Jan. 3rd, 1884, one killed. Heligoland, Oct. 30th and 31st, great many with Tringa and Scolopax, Limosa and Vanellus; and night of 31st, great rush.

Sterninæ, Terns.—Spurn, May 4th, all day to north. At the Farne Islands the Arctic Terns, Sterna macrura, returned to their nesting quarters on May 20th, and left again on Aug. 3rd, only a few being seen after that date. Yarmouth, Aug. 7th to 10th, Black, Common, and Arctic Terns along shore, and through the month to 31st; in shore only when wind is westerly, in flocks of ten to fifty, nine-tenths being young; it is the westerly winds which bring in the herring "syle," on which the Terns feed. The Sandwich Tern, Sterna cantiaca, arrived at the Farn Islands between April 15th and 23rd, leaving again on Aug. 3rd. At Languard Point, Mr. Owen Boyle saw on June 1st, 4.45 a.m., a pair of Roseate Terns; 7th, four Sandwich Terns; 15th, four Lesser Terns; and on 23rd, four Common Terns. At Redcar, on Sept. 5th, 6th, 7th, and 10th, many flights were heard passing over in dark.

Procellariidæ, Petrels.—The Stormy Petrel, P. pelagica, occurred at Yarmouth, Oct. 2nd, and Spurn on 23rd, shot in each case from beach. Hasbro' L.V., 27th, seven caught on deck, on 31st ten, and between Oct. 27th and Nov. 4th several were taken at various stations at sea off the east coast. One Fork-tailed Petrel, P. leucorrhoa, from Happisburgh (Hasbro') L.V. in October. A Shearwater was seen at Farn L.H. July 20th, 6 a.m., going north; and at Spurn L.H. on Aug. 5th, 2 a.m., a Manx Shearwater, P. anglorum, was killed against the lantern. Breydon, Sept. 5th, one shot. In the latter part of the same month two Sooty Shearwaters, P. griseus, were obtained in Bridlington Bay, and taken to the shop of Mr. Jones, birdstuffer, where they were seen and identified by Mr. W. E. Clarke.[26]

Colymbidæ, Divers.—Tees L.V., March 28th, one Great Northern and two Red-throated Divers off the light-ship, in company with two Grebes, twelve Sheldrake, and six Brent Geese. Redcar, Sept. 2nd, four or five Red-throated Divers; and on 20th several lots of both. Breydon Water, Oct. 16th, adult Red-throated Diver. At the Farn Islands, last half of October and in November, many Great Northern Divers about islands; Jan. 15th, 1884, several Red-throated Divers about island.

Podicipidæ, Grebes.—Bridlington, latter part of August, Red-necked Grebe, P. griseigena, shot, in full summer plumage. Spurn, Nov. 2nd, a few pairs of Little Grebes, Tachybaptes fluviatilis, on ponds; and on Jan. 6th, 1884, three Great Crested Grebes, P. cristatus, on the sea off point.

Alcidæ, Auks.—At Flamborough, in February, 1884, great numbers of Razorbills, Alca torda, all returned to their nesting quarters on the cliffs, an unprecedented circumstance there; and large numbers of the Common Guillemot were reported by the fishermen as seen at sea off the headland. At the Farn Islands, March 22nd, 1883, Guillemots had come to their nesting quarters, thousands arriving on April 1st. Puffins on the 15th. On January 10th and 28th, 1884, on each day a Black Guillemot, Uria grylle, was shot from the island. The Little Auk, Mergulus alle, shot there on Dec. 29th; and on Feb. 4th and 5th, 1884, a great many were seen flying and swimming about the islands, more than had ever been seen before.

The Committee are again indebted to Professor Chr. Fr. Lütken, of the Universitetets Zoologiske Museum, Copenhagen, for a list of the birds killed or taken against the lantern of the lighthouse of Stevns, on the projecting part of Zealand, marking the limit between the Baltic and Oresund, in the spring and autumn of 1883. The list has been drawn up by Mr. Autander, a physician living in the neighbourhood of the lighthouse. In forwarding the list to Professor Lütken he states there has been in this year only a few nights in which any number of birds have been killed, in consequence of the sky being generally clear during the time of the migration.

Stevns Fyr (Lighthouse of Stevns ), 1883.

Night to—

Since the completion of the Report a schedule has been received from the Leman and Ower L.V. moored forty-eight miles E.N.E. of Cromer, on the coast of Norfolk. From Feb. 11th to May 8th, Skylarks, Black Crows, Rooks, Wild Ducks, Starlings, and Goldcrests, are recorded as going in westerly directions; a like anomalous direction was maintained during the same period at the Outer Dowsing, Newarp, Cockle, and Llyn Wells light-vessels by birds passing these stations. On May 8th a great many Goldcrests came from the south at 11 a.m., and then went west. Sept. 11th, great numbers of Goldcrests going from S.E. to W.; and on Oct. 28th with Redbreasts and Wrens from S. to N.W. Between Oct. 27th and Nov. 1st two hundred and eight birds were killed or taken on the vessel, including seven Grey Crows, Larks, Redbreasts, Wrens, Goldcrests, Starlings, Sparrows, Chaffinches, and two Woodcocks; these birds were travelling from S., S.E., and E. to N.W., N.N.W., and W.

Wings from Galloper L.V. by Mr. Gurney. Oct. 10th, Tree Sparrow and Chaffinch; 11th, Shore Lark; 13th, Great Tit; 27th, Chaffinch; 28th, Blackstart (young male or old female?), Thrush; 30th, Meadow Pipit; Nov. 3rd, Jack Snipe and Water Rail.

On April 9th, 1884, I received from Mr. Gurney the wing of a Dabchick (Little Grebe), which struck the lantern of the Hasbro' lighthouse at 11 p.m. on the night of March 30th. The force was so great that the bird was split from the neck along the entire length of body; and on April 8th a Hoopoe was killed against the North Hasbro' L.V., and the head, wings, and legs sent to Mr. Gurney by Mr. B. V. Darnell, mate of that vessel. A Hoopoe was also taken alive on April 10th, on board a Grimsby smack when one hundred miles E.N.E. of the Spurn, wind blowing strong from E., and had been for some days.

At Heligoland, on the night from Aug. 6th to 7th, S.E., a considerable flight of the Silver Gamma Moth, Plusia gamma, but nothing to be compared with the perfect snow-storms of this moth which passed in the autumn of 1882, all going west. On Oct. 11th, S.S.W., there was a considerable flight of Hybernia defoliaria, the Mottled Umber Moth, mixed with Hybernia aurantiaria, the scarce Umber; and also during the nights of the last week in October repeated flights of these moths. With reference to the great flight of Plusia gamma in 1882, a notice of which appeared in our last Report, 1882, p. 47, Mr. Charles Williams, of the Hanois L.H., Guernsey, sends this note:—"Seeing Mr. Gätke's remarks in your Report about the Gamma Moth, I beg to say that they were here in June or July."

At the Tees L.V., Nov. 18th, "a large Seal came quite close to vessel, largest I've ever seen." As the Common Seal is well known at the mouth of the Tees, this probably may have been the Grey Seal, Halichœrus gryphus.

From Flamborough comes the announcement that, on Feb. 18th, that rare fish, the Ribbon or Oar-fish, Regalecus banksii, was found alive amongst the rocks on the south side near the Head; it measured thirteen feet three inches in length, sixteen inches in depth, and five and a half inches in thickness; it was supposed to have been brought in by the tremendous easterly swell of the last few days. It was purchased by Mr. Whittaker, of Scarborough, for thirty pounds.

General Remarks.

The observations taken on the East Coast of England in 1883 have been such as to generally confirm the conclusions arrived at in previous Report, having special reference to directions of flight and lines of migration.

The winter of 1883-84 has been exceptionally mild, and there has been an almost entire absence of severe frosts and lasting snow-storms; the prevailing winds in the autumn W. and S.W.—such as we know are specially favourable for the passage of the North Sea by great flights of birds, and their direct movement inland without alighting to rest or recruit themselves in the east coast districts. Our land stations report a great scarcity both of land and sea-birds; this has not, however, been the case at sea stations—that is, light-vessels situated off the coast at distances varying from five to fifty miles; here the stream of migration, so far from showing any abatement, has flown steadily on in a full tide, and, judging from the well-filled schedules that have been returned, there appears to have been a decided increase in the migrants passing these distant stations—due, perhaps, in some measure to increased interest and improved observations. Mr. Wm. Stock, of the Outer Dowsing L.V., remarks that he had never before seen so many birds past that station. The rush also over Heligoland during the autumn was enormous. Migration is more marked there than on the English coast; there was a great movement of various species passing forward on the 6th and 7th of August, and again on the 14th, and more pronounced still on the 21st and 22nd.

The first great rush of birds on the English coast was on Sept. 21st, and two following days; and a similar great movement or rush is indicated in Mr. Gätke's notes from his island outpost, as well as on our more distant light-ships. The prevailing winds on the North Sea on Sept. 21st were moderate north-easterly and easterly off the coasts of Denmark and Holland, blowing strong easterly on to our northern coasts north of the Humber, with southerly and south-westerly off the southeast coasts, causing cross-currents over the North sea. Whatever then was the impulse, atmospheric or otherwise, which induced such an immense rush of various birds at this time, it was one which acted alike, and with precisely the same impulse, on the Sea Eagle and tiny Goldcrest.

The second great rush was on the 12th and 13th of October, a similar movement being recorded at Heligoland. Then again from the 27th to the 31st, and somewhat less through the first week in November, the passage across Heligoland, as well as the rush on our east coast, was enormous. Speaking of the nights from the 27th to 31st inclusive, Mr. Gätke says, "This was the first move by the million; for four nights there has been a gigantic feathery tide running." During this time there were variable winds over the North Sea, but generally easterly and south-easterly on the Continent; but strong west winds and squalls prevailing generally on the 5th and 6th of November. With the outburst of some severe weather during the first week in December a considerable local movement is indicated along our coast from north to south, culminating in the enormous rush of Snow Buntings into Lincolnshire about the end of the first week in that month. A careful perusal of the Report will show how generally the rushes across Heligoland correlate with those observed on our east coast, although not always confined to the same species in both localities.

A somewhat remarkable and very anomalous movement of migrants is recorded in the schedules from some of the light-vessels off the Lincolnshire and Norfolk coasts in the spring of 1883. In February, March, April, and May, birds passing the Leman and Ower, Llyn Wells, Outer Dowsing, Newarp, and Cockle light-vessels were as a rule coming from easterly and passing in westerly directions. Had this movement been noticed at one station only we might perhaps have been inclined to doubt the accuracy of the return, but the fact of five light-vessels having no communication with each other reporting the same circumstance proves the correctness of the observations. A summary of the spring quarter at these stations shows:—

Outer Dowsing L.V., March 31st to May 18th, Sparrows, Chaffinches, Wrens, Rooks, Larks, Tree Sparrows, Linnets, Titlarks, Bullfinches, from E., S.E., E. by S., and N.E. to W, N.W., W.N.W., and W.S.W.

Llyn Wells L.V., April 30th, various flocks of Crows to S.W.

Newarp L.V., March 17th to April 15th, Crows on six days to W.

Leman and Ower L.V., Feb. 18th to May 8th, Skylarks, Starlings, Titlarks, Goldcrests, E. and E.S.E. to N.W.

Cockle L.V., Feb. 22nd to March 31st, Black Crows, Ducks, Jackdaws, Starlings, Larks, Lapwings, "Snow-birds" to W. On March 20th, 24th, and 26th, Black Crows or Rooks continuous from 5.50 a.m. to 11 a.m., E. to W.; and on 31st also continuous from morning to night in the same direction.

All these entries show a great immigration to our coast from the east in the spring months, and on precisely the same lines and directions as are travelled by these birds in the autumn.

An interesting feature of the autumn migration is the occurrence of a flight of the Blue-throated Warbler, Cyanecula suecica; twelve altogether were obtained, all being birds of the year, and nine of these on the coast of Norfolk, besides about twenty others seen by competent observers.

Very few Goldcrests, compared with the enormous flights of the previous autumn, have crossed, and the same scarcity is observable in the Heligoland return. Curiously enough, the Hedgesparrow, Accentor modularis, which migrated in such immense numbers in the same autumn, has been almost entirely absent. About half a dozen are recorded at Heligoland, none on the East Coast of England.

The intermittent migration of some birds, as the Jay, Shore Lark, Goldcrest, Hedgesparrow, Siskin, and Mealy Redpole, indicated by their extraordinary abundance in some years, and partial or entire absence in others, is perhaps suggestive of local causes influencing and regulating their movements, such as a succession of favourable breeding seasons, scarcity or failure of food, sudden meteorological changes; these acting separately or in combination, would be sufficient to compel the migration of large bodies of birds from centres or localities, where, under normal conditions, they would either have remained or some part only migrated. In this manner whole districts may become denuded for a time of their feathered inhabitants, and the balance become again rectified by a return movement in the spring, or from the surplus supply bred in other districts.

Of the enormous immigration which crosses our east coast in the autumn, either to winter in these islands or passing across them, a small proportion only appear to return by the same route. Spring returns from lighthouses and light-vessels show birds then move on the same lines as were followed in the autumn, but in the reverse direction. Yet these return travellers do not represent anything like a tithe of the immigrants which, week by week and month after month in the autumn, pour in one great tide on to the coast.

What is called the "first flight" of the Woodcock arrived on the Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk coasts on the night of Oct. 21st. The "great flight" or rush, which covered the whole of the east coast from the Farn Islands to Yarmouth, was on the nights of the 28th and 29th. These two periods correlate with the great flights of Woodcocks over Heligoland.

We are again indebted to Professor Ch. F. Lütken, of Copenhagen, for a list of the birds killed or taken alive against the lantern of the Stevns lighthouse, at the entrance of the Oresund, in Zealand. The list is specially interesting, as it names so many of the Heligoland birds. The occurrence of Locustella fluviatilis on Sept. 5th is the first recorded example for Denmark.

The Roller, Coracias garrula, occurred in October in two localities, one in Lincolnshire, the other in Suffolk. Two examples of the Sooty Shearwater, Puffinus griseus, were obtained in Bridlington Bay in the end of September. Altogether there has been a very marked absence along our east coast of rare and casual visitants; Heligoland, however, retains its pre-eminence for rare wanderers, and Mr. Gätke's list for 1883 includes Turdus varius, Pratincola rubicola var. indicus, Phylloscopus superciliosus, Hypolais pallida, Motacilla citriola, Anthus cervinus, A. richardi, Oriolus galbula, Lanius major, Muscicapa parva, Linota exilipes, Emberiza melanocephala, E. cirlus, E. rustica, E. pusilla, Pastor roseus, and Xema Sabinii.

Note.—At page 47, under the head "Coracias garrula, Roller," the locality of Bradwell is erroneously given in Norfolk, instead of Suffolk (2½ miles S.W. of Great Yarmouth). Mr. Gurney writes that, on June 6th, 1884, a Roller was shot at Gresham, near Cromer, and that before this Norfolk has not produced one for about thirty years.