Squatarola helvetica, Grey Plover. Spurn, Aug. 24th, about twenty adults in summer plumage; Sept. 5th, about one hundred and fifty, of which a third were in summer plumage, probably all adults (H. H. S.). Cley and Blakeney, Sept. 5th, several, the first seen (F. D. P.)

Ægialitis hiaticula, Ringed Plover.—Spring: Spurn, April 19th, nest with four eggs. Longstone L.H., May 4th, nest with four eggs. Very numerous on migration at Spurn, Aug. 20th to Sept. 10th, there was a small ploughed field on which probably a thousand collected every night (H. H. S.). Heligoland, June 28th, several hundreds young. Ægialitis cantiana, Kentish Plover. Languard L.H., Aug. 12th, one.

Eudromias morinellus, Dotterel.—Spring, Great Cotes, May 8th, seven. Autumn: Cley and Blakeney, Sept. 5th, W.N.W., five, one alone showing some rufous on lower, parts of breast and flanks (F. D. P.). Easington, near Spurn, Oct. 11th and 13th, seven. Heligoland, August 31st, some.

Vanellus vulgaris, Lapwing.—Great flights on to the coast throughout October to Nov. 12th. Rushes, Coquet L.H., Oct. 8th, great numbers all day; Redcar, 25th, continuous to N.W.; Tees L.V., 22nd and 23rd, large flights to N.W.; and in November at Redcar on the 1st and 3rd throughout the morning; 5th, all day; 8th, same. Hasboro' L.V., 12th, 10 p.m. to sunrise on 13th, and Jan. 3rd, 1885, night, quantities round lantern. Heligoland, July 27th to 28th, great numbers, and to Aug. 25th, daily.

Strepsilas interpres, Turnstone.—Farn, Aug. 13th, S.S.W., hundreds in flocks all day. Spurn, Aug. 20th to Sept. 10th, plentiful and increasing in numbers.

Himantopus ostralegus, Oystercatcher.—Spurn, Aug. 20th to Sept. 10th, a few at intervals.

Phalaropus fulicarius, Grey Phalarope.—Felixstowe, Sept. 9th, one shot. Longstone L.H., Nov. 2nd, one swimming in pool near lighthouse.

Scolopax rusticula, Woodcock.—Spring: Spurn, March 15th, one. Farn Islands, 25th, one; and again on April 28th. At Twigmoor, Lincolnshire, young Woodcocks were hatched early in May.[32] Autumn: The first is recorded at Coquet L.H. on Sept. 1st; the last at Hasboro' L.V., Jan. 20th, 1885, one caught at night. The migration covered 142 days, the bulk arriving between Oct. the 5th and Nov. 22nd. What is usually termed by sportsmen the 'first flight' came in on the nights of the 5th and 6th of October, wind easterly; another flight between the 10th and 16th; the 'great flight' on the night of the 28th, N.W. strong, with rain and colder weather; on the 29th, forty were shot in one locality on the Lincolnshire coast; there was again a second "great flight" from the 11th to 13th of November. Independent of these rushes, Woodcocks have been dropping in either singly or by two's and three's throughout the last three months in the year, and more or less over the whole coast line. Altogether the migration has been much more desultory and prolonged than any previously recorded by us. Heligoland, Oct. 6th, some; 12th, some; 14th, twenty shot; 15th, about thirty shot; 19th, less; 23rd, some; 25th, twenty to thirty shot; 29th, forty to fifty on island—night, about ten caught at lighthouse; 30th, thirty to forty caught or shot; Nov. 1st, some; 3rd, full moon, numbers flying about island, two or three together; 12th, ten or twelve shot; 16th, ten or fifteen shot; 22nd, several; 28th, twenty shot and two caught; 30th, some; Dec. 26th, one.

Snipe, Gallinago major, Great Snipe. Farn, Aug. 31st, 5 a.m., calm, one to W. Cley and Blakeney, Sept. 15th, E., one shot. G. cœlestis, Common Snipe, Kentish Knock L.V., Sept. 9th, several about, one caught, were passing W. Cley and Blakeney, Sept. 16th, a considerable arrival. There was a very considerable rush on to the East Coast in the last fortnight in October, and again in November, from the Farn Islands to Yarmouth; three distinct rushes at the dates Nov. 4th to 5th, S.W., half gale; 10th to 14th, S.E. winds; and 23rd to 29th, N. and north-easterly winds; generally are reported to have been very plentiful in the Eastern Counties in November and December. Limnocryptes gallinula, Jack Snipe, very few records; the first July 31st, Farn L.H., one at noon to W.; a few at Great Cotes and Spurn last half of October. In recent years this little bird has become extremely scarce in the Humber district, and in localities where it was once very common; compared with former times—twenty years ago—I do not see one in ten now. Heligoland, Common Snipe and Jack Snipe, Oct. 17th, N.W., strong, some; 25th and 30th, some.

Tringa alpina, Dunlin.—Spurn, Aug. 20th to Sept. 10th, great many, some flocks containing thousands, and in August many in almost full summer plumage (H. H. S.) Near Kilnsea, Sept. 26th, at early morning, I saw an immense migratory flock on the beach which appeared very tired; many of these still retained the black pectoral patch entire or more or less broken. Great Cotes, a flight of 1000 to 1500 have resorted almost daily at high-water, throughout the winter, to a fallow field near the Humber.

T. minuta, Little Stint.—Blakeney and Cley, Sept. 5th, W.N.W., two, and one Temminck's stint; also, Sept. 12th, E. to N., one Temminck's Stint, very restless, and constantly uttering its queer cricket-like notes (F. D. P.). Spurn, Sept. 26th, four Little Stints.

T. striata, Purple Sandpiper.—Spring: Farn, March 28th, many all day on rocks. Autumn: Redcar, Oct. 16th, one; and 20th, four shot. Blakeney, third week in October, one. Heligoland, Sept. 11th, E.S.E. some.

T. canutus, Knot.—Redcar, July 23rd, S.W., first flock; Aug. 6th, S. to S.W., a few. Spurn, Aug. 20th to Sept. 10th, tolerably numerous, some examples obtained were in almost full summer plumage; Sept. 26th and forward through Nov., great many large flights at ebb tide crossing from Lincolnshire coast to Spurn muds. Heligoland, enormous numbers of Waders crossed Heligoland from the end of the third week in July to the middle of September; July 20th, night, enormous numbers to W.; 22nd, same; 22nd to 23rd, night, and to 25th, immense numbers; Sept. 16th, flight of tringa, totanus, charadrius, all young.

T. subarquata, Curlew Sandpiper. Thanet, Aug. 16th, five. Spurn, 24th, one small flock. Blakeney, Sept. 5th, about a dozen; altogether exceptionally scarce.

Machetes pugnax, Ruff.—Blakeney, Sept. 3rd, one Buff; Spurn, 4th, about a dozen; Stourmouth, 10th, three; Great Cotes, 12th, twenty or more; 18th, one Buff and seven Reeves.

Calidris arenaria, Sanderling. Spurn, Aug. 20th to Sept. 10th, fairly abundant, in small flocks; some obtained early bore traces of red on their plumage (H. H. S.); Sept. 26th, a few. Heligoland, Sept. 3rd, evening, great many over head.

Tringoides hypoleucos, Common Sandpiper.—Spurn, Aug. 20th to 26th, a great many in the drains and also on the shore, but they soon left, none seen after 26th (H. H. S.). Great Cotes, Sept. 1st, tolerably numerous on autumn passage. Heligoland, July 22nd to 23rd, thousands.

Helodromas ochropus.—Green Sandpiper.—Spurn, Aug. 20th to Sept. 10th, tolerably common; "generally saw some every day at first, and once five together, but latterly they were less plentiful" (H. H. S.). Heligoland, July 22nd to 23rd, Red-shanks, Common Sandpiper, and Green Sandpiper, thousands.

Totanus glareola, Wood Sandpiper.—Mouth of Stour, Aug. 16th, one seen. Spurn, Aug. 21st, one, a female.

T. calidris, Redshank.—Spurn, Aug. 20th to Sept. 10th, rare at first, but rapidly increasing; on Sept. 1st, flock of about 200 (H. H. S.). Blakeney and Cley, Sept. 6th, tolerably numerous, with other Waders from 5 to 8.30 a.m. to W. Heligoland, July 1st, 2nd and 3rd, solitary birds; 22nd to 23rd, thousands.

T. canescens, Greenshank. Spurn, Aug. 20th to Sept. 10th, "during the first fortnight, a pair, or latterly one, at a small pond every day" (H. H. S.). Cley and Blakeney, Sept. 5th, one, immature, shot; 10th, S., "very fine, several in two's and three's, flying high and very restless" (F. D. P.); altogether have been unusually scarce on East Coast. Heligoland, Aug. 18th, young birds.

Limosa lapponica, Bar-tailed Godwit.—Redcar, July 22nd, E. light, one; 29th, several flocks.

Numenius phæopus, Whimbrel.—Redcar, July 1st to 15th, a few passing, and on to Aug. 13th. Great Cotes, July 30th, first heard on passage. Cley and Blakeney, Sept. 9th, rather many to W. The last are recorded from Tees L.V., Dec. 5th, five to N.E. Heligoland, nights of July 20th to 23rd, W., enormous and countless numbers passing on; 27th to 28th, great many; August 1st to 3rd, enormous; 10th, some; and on the 31st in greater or less number.

Numenius arquata, Curlew.—Hanois L.H., July 10th, many young all day about rocks. Flamborough L.H., 31st, during night. Spurn, Aug. 20th to Sept. 10th, very plentiful. Great Cotes, Sept., first fortnight, young birds most abundant. Wells, Norfolk, 27th, flock of about 200. North-east Lincolnshire, October 30th, about sixty old birds in turnip-field. Heligoland, Aug. 19th, young; 31st, many; Nov. 13th, 10 p.m., astounding numbers passing over.

Sterninæ, Terns.—Sandwich Tern (S. cantiaca).—Coquet L.H., April 16th, eight seen. Farn Islands, April 19th, noon, N.N.E., first heard; 30th, fifteen flying about breeding-place; May 18th, collected at breeding-places; 25th, first eggs; June 13th, first young. Longstone L.H., Sept. 1st, left and gone to sea. Arctic Tern (S. macrura), Farn Islands, May 5th, first heard; 22nd, assembled at breeding-places; 25th; first eggs; left about the first week in September, a few lingering to October 13th. Terns generally.—Redcar, August 20th and 30th, Sept. 1st and 2nd, large numbers to south. Spurn, Sept. 3rd, large mixed flocks of Arctic, Common, and some Lesser Tern daily to south; less towards end of month. Redcar, Nov. 7th, one.

Larinæ, Gulls.—Herring Gull (Larus argentatus), Whitby L.H., Feb. 13th, S. 6, at daylight Gulls first came to cliffs; May 18th, first young on wing; Aug. 29th, old and young left cliffs for sea. Heligoland, Dec. 31st, enormous numbers of old birds. Lesser black-backed Gull (L. fuscus), Longstone L.H., March 15th to 29th, assembling at nesting-haunts; at Farn L.H., on 30th, Black-headed Gull (L. ridibundus), Twigmoor, May 22nd, many young on ponds. Little Gull (L. minutus), Whitby, July 15th, one seen on River Esk along with Kittiwakes, by Mr. Backhouse. Yarmouth, Nov. 11th, one shot, bird of second year. Heligoland, Oct. 30th, hundreds to lee of island. Gulls generally.—Flamborough, July 4th, great many grey Gulls and Kittiwakes to S. Whitby, Sept. 9th, many to S. Spurn, Sept. 25th to 28th, S.W. strong, great many young Herring and Lesser black-backed Gulls continuously to south; they passed the cliff point to the north of Easington lane end at the average rate of seventy in fifteen minutes; the exact proportion of old and young in that period was nineteen adult and forty-eight immature Lesser black-backed Gulls, one Kittiwake, and two Terns; occasionally a few young Herring Gulls passed, but the vast majority were immature L. fuscus. On the average, 280 Gulls passed in the hour, all going south in the teeth of a strong S.W. wind; rate of progress probably thirty miles an hour, and average distance from coast 150 yards. This movement was continuous for at least four days, and for ten hours on each day. Cromer, Oct. 11th, Mr. Gurney writes "We have had another of those strange passages of Gulls which I have noticed at Cromer before. I reckoned that this afternoon eighteen hundred passed in three-quarters of an hour, going W.N.W., and probably ten thousand after 12 o'clock." Redcar, Oct. 20th to 23rd, Gulls, chiefly young, L. fuscus and argentatus, going N.W. in flocks during morning; 24th, Kittiwakes very common at sea. Orfordness, Nov. 10th, Gulls all day in flocks of twenty to thirty, N.E. to S.W. Coast of Durham, 27th, L. fuscus and argentatus, immature birds in flocks of twenty to forty, flying north.

Stercorariinæ, Skuas.—Farn, July 23rd, two chasing Gulls. Grimsby, Sept. 7th, one Richardson's Skua (S. crepidatus). Spurn, 26th, one Pomatorhine Skua (S. pomatorhinus), the black variety. Redcar, Oct. 4th, one adult (black variety) shot at sea; 24th, two at 2 p.m. to E. Heligoland, Oct. 30th, some.

Procellariidæ, Petrels.—Galloper L.V., Oct. 2nd, one Stormy Petrel (P. pelagica). Coquet L.H., 4th, two caught at lantern. Dudgeon L.V., 18th, one caught. Longstone L.H., 23rd, two caught "one the large sort, the other small." Hasboro' L.V., Nov. 6th, one; 13th, three. Redcar, 17th, 11 a.m., N., one. Heligoland, P. pelagica, Oct. 22nd, one; 29th, two or three; 30th, one; Nov. 3rd, one. P. leucorrhoa, Nov. 10th, one shot. Fulmarus glacialis, Fulmar, Heligoland, Oct. 22nd, one; 29th, two or three.

Colymbidæ, Divers.—Farn, April 7th, Great Northern Diver C. glacialis, two to north; July 12th, two to north; Nov. 8th, five to N.; Jan. 19th, 1885, two off island.

Podicipitidæ, Grebes.—P. fluviatilis, Little Grebe, Spurn, Nov. 10th, 8 p.m., one killed at low light. Heligoland, Oct. 25th, several young shot.

Alcidæ, Auks.—Longstone L.H., Feb. 20th. Guillemot (Lomvia troile), flying about breeding-places, but not settling; on March 22nd they settled for the first time; but on the 26th, owing to the cold E. wind, all went out to sea, returning again to the rocks on the 29th with a W. and S.W. wind. Farn L.H. March 16th, hundreds flying round nesting-quarters. Tees L.V., July 2nd, "a Guillemot came to the light-ship and remained three weeks, disappeared suddenly, probably shot." Redcar, Nov. 12th to 15th, great numbers to E. all day; Nov. 10th, Black Guillemot (U. grylle), young bird shot. Longstone L.H., April 17th, Puffin (Fratercula arctica), first seen. Redcar, Nov. 18th, 19th, 20th, Little Auk (Mergulus alle), great numbers at sea. Farn Islands, Jan. 12th to 26th, 1885, great many off islands. Heligoland, Nov. 13th, cliff crowded with Guillemots, never so early before; Dec. 17th, W., thousands on cliffs, as in summer time.

Professor Chr. Fr. Lütken, of the Universitetets Zoologiske Museum, Copenhagen, again forwards a list of birds killed against the lighthouse of Stevns, on the projecting part of Zealand, marking the limit between the Baltic and Oresund. The list has been drawn up by Mr. Autander, a physician living in the neighbourhood of the lighthouse. In forwarding the list, Mr. Autander observes that he has every reason to think it very incomplete, as the interest bestowed upon it by the officers of the lighthouse is rather indifferent; all birds fit to be eaten are probably disposed of in this way, and do not always come under his observation.

Stevns Fyr (Lighthouse of Stevns), 1884.

Notes on Insects at the Lighthouses.

Under date of June 30th, Mr. Owen Boyle, of the Languard L.H., reports, "a Sky Lark followed by a string of Bees. The plaintive cries of this poor bird first attracted my attention, it flew so close that I almost caught it; it was closely pursued by a large number of Bees, and in its fright took to the water followed by its pursuers. When last seen it was making for the Essex coast." July 31st, at 10.14 a.m., "a cloud of mosquitoes pitched in this neighbourhood, similar to those seen in India; most of them were carried off at noon by a light breeze."

Mr. Charles Williams, of the Hanois L.H., Guernsey, says, under date of July 10th, "A great quantity of large ants with wings passing. A great many settled on the rocks and about the lighthouse. I have only once seen them before like this, when I was stationed at the South Bishop Rock off the coast of Wales."

Heligoland, by Mr. Gätke.—Night, July 2nd to 3rd, thousands of Plusia gamma; 3rd, myriads of Dragonflies; night, 21st to 22nd, great numbers of Bombyx neustria, east to west; 22nd to 23rd, the same; 27th to 28th, numerous nights passing on.

General Remarks.

The report for the East Coast of England shows that a great migration was carried on for six months in the autumn and winter of 1884-5. The schedules returned indicate that no one place had special preference, and that the inflow of migrants was equally distributed over the entire coast line.

The southerly movement of migrants was well established in July, and from this time to the end of the third week in January, 1885, there has been a steady flow, with slight intermissions, of birds either passing up the coast to the south or moving directly inland, the vast majority coming from the east across the North Sea, and moving westward or in westerly directions. Occasionally there have been heavy rushes or persistent bird waves continuous for days, and even weeks.

The periods of migration occupied by different species vary greatly, from four weeks to as many months; no general rule can be laid down in this respect.

As a rule, the young birds of the year migrate independently of the old, and some weeks in advance; there are, however, frequent exceptions to this, more especially late in the season, when the flocks are sometimes composed of old and young. With some of our shore birds, as Grey Plover, Knot, Sanderling, a few old birds, still in summer plumage, arrive very early in the season, some weeks later the main body of the young, and lastly the bulk of the adults, the latter having then assumed the ordinary winter dress.

The lines of migration have been those followed in previous years, the vast majority of immigrants coming either directly from east to west or from points south of east to others north of west. The records of birds travelling from points north of east are comparatively exceptional.

There was an immense and continuous rush, a gigantic feathery tide, on to the coast from the middle of October (15th) to the end of the month, migrants arriving continuously night and day. This rush was continued at some of the stations with but slight intermissions to the middle of November. The last fortnight in October is the average annual period of what may be called the "great rush" of immigrants on to the East Coast of England.

In previous reports we have drawn attention to the fact of a migration in opposite directions going on at the same time over the North Sea. This is observed more particularly at southeastern stations, on light vessels moored at many miles distance from the nearest land, where, during the spring and autumn, the same species of birds, as Crows, Rooks, Jackdaws, Starlings, Larks, Sparrows, Buntings and Finches, are recorded crossing the North Sea moving from opposite quarters and passing both towards the British coast and towards the Continent. This apparently abnormal movement in opposite directions is again indicated in the autumn and spring of 1884-5.

In a recent article in the 'Encyclopædia Britannica,' Professor Newton tells us that "there is scarcely a bird of either the Palæarctic or Nearctic regions, whose habits are at all well known, of which much the same may not be said; and hence we are led to the conclusion that every bird of the Northern Hemisphere is, to a greater or less degree, migratory in some part or other of its range." There can be no doubt that in this passage Professor Newton indicates the probable explanation of the special phenomena attending a double migration as recorded from time to time in our reports.

With very few exceptions, the vast majority of our British birds, such as are generally considered habitual residents, the young invariably, the old intermittingly, leave these islands in the autumn, their place being taken by others, not always necessarily of the same species, coming from more northern latitudes, or from districts of Eastern Europe, where, on the approach of winter, the conditions of locality and food-supply are found less favourable to existence. These immigrants on the approach of spring leave, moving back to the Continent on the same lines, but in the reverse direction to those traversed in the autumn; at the same time, also, our own birds return from the Continent to their nesting-quarters in these islands. To give one instance, out of many which might be cited, that of the Blackbird:—In the autumn, during September, the young of the year leave their summer-quarters, and their place is shortly taken by others, likewise young birds, coming in October and November from districts which lie directly east or south-east of Great Britain. Should our English winter prove generally severe, or even partially so, our old birds will also leave, and in their place we have an influx of old Blackbirds from the Continent, pushed forward by similar causes. In the last autumn and winter, which has been exceedingly variable, with many sudden changes of temperature, our East Coast reports show an enormous migration of this species to have taken place. This commenced on September 12th, and was continued at intervals throughout October, becoming nearly continuous in November; after this intermittent, in throbs and pulsations, up to the end of the third week in January, 1885. These influxes of old birds correlate with sudden changes of temperature and outbreaks of severe weather on the Continent. In the spring the continental visitors disappear, and our so-called resident Blackbirds come back to their nesting-quarters. In this way we have a regular interchange of birds in the spring and autumn,—a double migration, carried on twice a year between the British Islands and the Continent. As far as our knowledge extends the normal conditions of locality and climate over the whole area are such as do not necessitate a regular interchange of the members of their respective avi-faunas. There is apparently no reason why our Rooks, Starlings, Sky Larks, and Blackbirds should not be able to winter in England just as well as abroad; their not doing so, but persistently migrating, is suggestive of a regular succession of bird waves,—as one moves forward another quickly follows in its wake. The southern limit of autumn migration, in the individuals of any species, is in direct ratio to the breeding range; such as nest in southern latitudes move still further south, and thus make room for those of their sort which have nested further north. Such are the ordinary phenomena of migration, a movement which is as regular and persistent as the flow and ebb of the tide.[33]

One of the last schedules received, at the time of going to press, from the Cockle L.V., off the Norfolk coast, records immense flights of Crows (probably Rooks), passing in a southeasterly direction to the Continent early in March, 1885, commencing on the 2nd at 7 a.m., in large numbers on the 6th at 6 a.m., and continuous from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. on the 8th; large numbers again on the 9th at 5.30 a.m.

The notes under the head of separate species in the East Coast report for 1884, indicate several movements of special interest. Blackbirds, as has been already stated, have crossed the North Sea in extraordinary numbers, commencing on September 12th and throughout October, and immense numbers in November; on the 11th, 12th and 13th the rush appears to have been continuous, night, and day, over the whole coast line; after this intermittent to the end of the third week in January, 1885.

Another very interesting feature is the occurrence of the Arctic Bluethroat in considerable numbers between September 8th and 16th; eighty to one hundred were observed in one locality on the Norfolk coast on the 12th.

The migration of the Gold-crested Wren was very pronounced. The first are recorded on August 28th, and after this at various stations in large numbers up to November 22nd. Eighty-seven days against ninety-two in 1882, and eighty-two in 1883. The visible migration of this little wanderer across Heligoland has been considerably below the average of other years.

Pied Flycatchers arrived in large numbers from August 10th to September 17th. Across Heligoland also there was a great migration between August 10th and September 18th.

Immense numbers of Bing Doves are shown to have crossed from the Continent between the 21st of October and the end of November. This immigration appears to have covered the coast between Berwick and Yarmouth. On our northern coasts for nine days, between November the 20th and 28th, the rush was continuous. Large numbers of Stock Doves also crossed during the same period.

The main body of the Woodcocks generally arrive in two flights, known to East-coast sportsmen as the "first flight," and after this the "great flight." In the autumn of 1884 the immigration of this species was most prolonged, commencing on September 1st, and continued onward to January 20th, 1885, or 142 days. Four distinct rushes or flights are also indicated,—October 5th and 6th; another on the 10th to the 16th; a third, probably the "great flight," on the 28th; and again a very large flight between November the 11th and 13th. Independent of these there has been a constant dropping in by two or three together, or singly, throughout the autumn and winter. Woodcocks have also crossed Heligoland in the same desultory fashion; and the dates of the chief flights will be found to correlate closely with the rushes on to our East Coast.

In the latter part of November and early in December there was a considerable arrival of Bitterns on the East Coast, probably driven across by the severe weather on the Continent between November the 28th and December 2nd.

Besides the Bluethroats, already noticed, several rare and casual visitants have been recorded during the autumn. Two examples of the Barred Warbler, one at Spurn Point and another on the Norfolk coast. The Icterine Warbler, also on the Norfolk coast; and an Ortolan Bunting, likewise from the same locality. The Lapland Bunting, in Lincolnshire and Norfolk; Tengmalm's Owl, in Holderness; and a rose-coloured Starling, near Spurn.

Mr. Gätke's Heligoland notes, from June 28th to the end of the year, comprise 118 species, including, as usual, several rare visitors to the ornithological observatory:—Icterine Warblers on Aug. 18th; Anthus richardi, Sept. 3rd to Oct. 12th; A. campestris, Sept. 4th; Carpodacus erythrinus, Sept. 9th; Anthus cervinus, a great many, from Sept. 15th to Oct. 12th; Lanius major, in most unusual numbers, from Sept. 17th to Nov. 4th; Alauda cristata, Sept. 30th and Oct. 1st; Saxicola stapazina (?), Oct. 2nd; Turdus varius, Oct. 3rd, 12th and 23rd, one each day; Emberiza pusilla, Oct. 5th, two; Turdus migratorius, one on Oct. 14th; Fringilla rufescens, our English Redpoll, one on Nov. 22nd. Besides these large numbers of continental species, which are classed amongst the rare and occasional visitants to the British Islands, and whose line of migration is normally far to eastward of these islands, as Emberiza hortulana, Motacilla flava, M. alba, Sylvia suecica, Anthus rupestris, Calcarius lapponicus, Otocorys alpestris, Nyctala tengmalmi, Ruticilla titys, Regulus ignicapillus, and Larus minutus.

The great rush of birds crossed Heligoland during the last fortnight in October, and appears to have come directly across to our eastern shores. Mr. Gätke remarks, under date Oct. 24th, S.E., clear, fine, early rather cold, C. cornix, frugilegus, and monedula, monstrous numbers; cornix and monedula mixed in uninterrupted flight of ten and twelve minutes each, continued with but short interruptions or gaps; width as far as the eye could reach in northerly and southerly directions; and thus from 9 a.m. till 1 p.m. Sturnus, "a succession of clouds sweeping past overhead."

Speaking generally of migration during the month of October, "weather exceptionally fine; nearly no curruca; very few rufa; few rubecula, accentor, regulus; and fringilla but small numbers. Thrushes the same; not a single Parus major nor other Tits; Pipits also far below the usual numbers."

"Marvellously many Anthus cervinus, Lanius major and excubitor, and particularly Corvidæ and Starlings. In December, Greenfinches, enormous numbers all the month, more than ever been seen here."

Since the completion of the Report Mr. J. H. Gurney informs me that he has received from Mr. J. Barrett, of the Swin Middle L.V., the wing of a Garganey Teal with the date July 22nd, 1884. Dunlin, March 21st, 1885, and that of a Wheatear with the extraordinary date of Feb. 4th attached.

From the Dudgeon L.V. comes a schedule signed by Mr. T. W. Harrison, the entries ranging from Nov. 10th, 1884, to March 6th, 1885. On Nov. 10th about forty Carrion Crows going from S.E. to N.W.; considerable numbers of Larks on the nights of the 11th and 12th, about twenty being killed; on the 13th, two Woodcocks at 6.40 p.m., N.N.E. 3, misty, one killed; the same night a great rush of Larks, Blackbirds, Fieldfares and Starlings; "Black Crows" and Larks, also a few Thrushes, at intervals through January, all coming from easterly and going in westerly directions. On the night of Feb. 15th, E., Knot, Stint, Lapwing and other birds round the lantern all night. Night of March 4th, E.S.E., Lapwings and Starlings about lantern, and eight of the latter killed; on the night of the 5th, several Carrion Crows between 7 and 12 p.m., three killed. The Dudgeon L.V. is about thirty-five miles east of Skegness on the Lincolnshire coast.