Coturnix Communis, Quail.—Shipwash L.V., October 22d, 1 A.M., one killed (wing sent).

Rallus Aquaticus, Water-Rail.—Spurn L.V., November 1st, 6 A.M., S.W., one caught on deck. Llyn Wells L.V., November 1st, 3 A.M., two killed striking the lantern. Coquet L.V., November 4th, one killed.

Crex Pratensis, Land-Rail.—Whitby L.V., May 7th, 2 A.M., first heard. Farn L.H., 17th, 4 A.M., W., Land-Rail. Common Coot (Fulica atra), Languard L.H., September 8th, 2.45 A.M., one struck and killed.

Charadriidæ.—Charadrius pluvialis, Golden Plover.—Farn L.H., September 12th, thirteen to W. Tetney, October 18th, E. to N.E., first flights. Languard L.H., October 31st, large flock to W. at 3 P.M. Squatarola helvetica, Grey Plover.—Yarmouth, May, first and second weeks, several in summer dress September 22d, first autumn arrivals. Great Cotes, May 18th, 1886, about 200 along the foreshore, the majority in full summer dress. March 10th, 1887, some young of the previous year seen on the muds to-day had not lost the golden-drop plumage of the autumn. Ægialitis cantiana, Kentish Plover.—Yarmouth. April 29th, two seen in a flock of Dunlin and Ringed Plover; June 10th, one seen. Languard L.H., November 27th, 7.50 A.M., two pitched on beach; left at noon. Ægialitis hiaticula, Ringed Plover.—Great Cotes, May 18th, 1886, great numbers on flats. Languard L.H., November 16th, thousands of Dotterel and Oxbirds together pitched on beach at high water. Swin Middle L.V., November 13th, 2.50 P.M., W., thousands of "Stone Runners" first seen to E., then to W. (see p. 48); 18th, the same, a very large flight in sight from 3.55 to 4.20 going S.E. to S.W.; also on December 28th and January 13th. Great Cotes, August 19th, early night, sultry and dull, several Kinged Plover passing over. Trent Lock, Notts, August 19th, same at 9 P.M. [F. B. W.]. Eudromias morinellus, Dotterel.—Great Cotes, May 4th and 5th, trip of eight. Robin Hood's Bay, Yorkshire, September, first week, six shot; Whitby, 6th, four; Seaton-Carew, 10th, one shot. Vanellus vulgaris, Lapwing.—Outer Dowsing L.V., October 6th, great rush with others; Leman and Ower L.V., 8th, many during night to W.; Inner Dowsing L.V., 17th, one. Languard L.H., November 8th, hundreds at 2 P.M.; 26th, 3 A.M. till daylight, with many others. Great Cotes, December 13th, about 12,000 in one field twenty-four hours before the frost commencing on the 14th; Whitby, 24th, all morning in small flocks, twenty to forty, coming in from sea. Redcar, January 21st, 1887, S.W., strong; and 22d, W.N.W, many with larks coming in from sea and going W. Strepsilas interpres, Turnstone.—Yarmouth, May 14th, some; Great Cotes, 18th, a dozen in various plumage. Yarmouth, September 8th, some. Hæmatopus ostralegus, Oystercatcher.—Redcar, August 5th to end of month and to September 7th, many. Leman and Ower L.V., June 18th, one killed.

Scolopacidæ, Recurvirostra avocetta, Avocet.—Redcar, August 5th, 12.10 P.M., one (I am sure of species.—T. H. N.). Phalaropus fulicarius, Grey Phalarope.—October 14th, one picked up at Bassingham, near Lincoln. Scolopax rusticula, Woodcock.—Spring: Longstone L.H., April 3d, 1.30 P.M., S. by E., one Woodcock to E. Autumn: Farn L.H., October 4th, one; Flambro', 5th, some. "First flight" at Coquet Island, Whitby, Spurn, and Norfolk coast on 6th. At Whitby L.H., one struck at 1.30 A.M., probably marking the time of arrival of the flight on the East Coast; wind south-easterly, overcast, misty. The second or "great flight," from October 16th to 25th, from the Farn Islands to the Norfolk coast, birds dropping here and there in a desultory fashion, and nowhere plentiful, wind E. and E.S.E.; on October 15th to 16th a gale from E.S.E. A few on October 28th, 29th, and 30th, and scattered occurrences up to November 15th. The last recorded as coming in from the sea was at Tees L.V., December 18th, going W.; wind W.S.W. Gallinago cœlestis, Common Snipe.—Longstone L.H., August 8th, one; 23d, one. Tetney, August 12th, flight. Whitby L.H., October 4th, 4 A.M., one killed. Longstone L.H., October 4th, 1 A.M., one heard in flight. Yarmouth, October 30th, flight; Coquet, November 18th, 8 A.M., S.S.E., four. G. gallinula, Jacksnipe.—Longstone snipe.—Longstone L.H., April 25th, 10.30 A.M., one.[9] Autumn: At the Farn Island stations and Lincolnshire coast from October 2d to 6th, wind generally south-easterly. Tringa alpina, Dunlin.—Spring, 1886: Yarmouth, April 29th, enormous numbers on north beach, some Ringed Plover amongst them. Trent Lock, May 9th, 11 A.M., twenty to thirty Black-breasted Dunlin; Great Cotes, 18th, great numbers in summer plumage. T. subarquata, Pigmy Curlew.—Yarmouth, July 31st, one in full summer plumage. T. striata, Purple Sandpiper.—Tarn L.H., September 22d, some on rocks; October 31st, flock of twenty. Yarmouth, November 17th, two shot. T. canutus, Knot.—Spring, 1886: Yarmouth, April 13th, Knot and Dunlin on Breydon in semi-summer dress. Longstone L.H., July 16th, S.E., fine, one. Redcar, August 19th to end of month, a few seen at sea. Tetney, February 24th, 1887, out of six shot to-day, one had the lower parts mottled with faded brick red, the summer plumage of the previous year having not been altogether cast off. Calidris arenaria, Sanderling.—Yarmouth, May 14th, considerable arrival with others; some seen on the 9th. Totanus ochropus, Green Sandpiper.—Longstone L.H., July 29th, one seen (very rare here). Grainsby, Lincolnshire (Waithe-beck), July 27th, first; August 23d, large arrival; end of March, all have left. T. glareola, Wood Sandpiper.—Cley, Norfolk, August 13th. T. calidris, Redshank.—Longstone L.H., July 29th. Farn L.H., September 4th and 9th, many. Tees L.V., October 30th, twenty; always common on the Lincolnshire coast and at Spurn in the autumn. T. fuscus, Spotted Redshank.—Breydon, Norfolk, August 15th, one. T. canescens, Greenshank.—Yarmouth, April 28th, 1886, two; May 14th, some; and on return, November 27th. Limosa lapponica, Bar-tailed Godwit.—Yarmouth, April 12th, 1886, first; 14th, some; May 14th, great arrival. Autumn: September 22d, first. Redcar, July 19th, 12.30 P.M., seven or eight to E. L. ægocephala, Black-tailed Godwit.—September 12th, one at Breydon, Norfolk. Numenius phæopus, Whimbrel.—Spring: April 26th, Breydon, Yarmouth, in small number. May 14th, large arrival with others. Autumn: Redcar, June 19th, first heard passing over; last on September 7th. Great Cotes, July 26th, first heard. Tees L.V., August 30th, twenty; October 30th, very large flock of Curlew, Whimbrel, some Oyster-catchers and Redshanks; January 4th, 1887, large flocks both of Whimbrel and Curlew. N. arquata, Curlew.—Leman and Ower L.V., May 10th, 1886, 3 A.M., five, one killed. Great Cotes, August 19th, first young Curlew in marsh; 20th, hundreds of Curlew in the marsh for a few hours. I was told by one observer he had seen thousands. Redcar, September 6th, at sea flock to W. Yarmouth, September, early, very numerous; Redcar, 19th, flight, with others, overhead, 10 to 11 P.M., foggy and dark. Tees L.V., October 30th, very large flight; Hasbro' L.V., 30th, 7 P.M. to midnight, many round light, none struck. Winterton, October 27th, 8.30 P.M., flight to W. Tees L.V., January 4th, 1887, large flocks.

The migration of waders was observed inland by their nocturnal cries. Great Cotes, August, night of 19th, Ringed Plover. Trent Lock, Notts, by Mr E. B. Whitlock, August 19th, Ringed Plover; 21st, Sandpipers and others; 24th, Curlew. At Grainsby, by Mr Haigh. August 29th, waders; and by Professor Newton, of Cambridge, July 21st to 22d and 26th to 27th, about midnight.

Sterninæ.—Sterna macrura, Arctic Tern.—Farn L.H., May 4th, 1886, 5 A.M., first appearance; September 2d, left breeding haunts. Yarmouth, May 14th, some along coast. S. fluviatilis, Common Tern.—Trent Lock, Notts, May 11th, one; 13th, three. Tees L.V., July 25th, August 10th and 14th, great numbers of Terns at sea. Redcar, August 19th to end, great many at sea. S. minuta, Little Tern.—Spurn, April 5th, first seen at breeding-place. Yarmouth, April 28th, two seen with Black Tern; May 12th, two. Rye, Sussex, May 4th and 5th, first Lesser Tern. S. cantiaca, Sandwich Tern.—Farn L.H., April 28th, 5 A.M., nine seen—left nesting quarters on September 2d. Hydrochelidon nigra, Black Tern.—Yarmouth, April 26th, 1886, flight from S.W. to N.E., wind E.; 27th and 28th, some to N.E.; May 14th, some. Another observer, April 28th, twenty in flock to N.E. Cley, Norfolk, September 1st, young Black Tern to S.

Larinæ.—Larus minutus, Lesser Gull.—Redcar, June 14th, W., squally, four seen off pier; November, one. L. argentatus, Herring Gull.—Whitby L.H., February 15th, many at daybreak to breeding haunts; July 6th, first young on wing; August 27th, all left cliffs for sea. Leman and Ower L.V., October 2d, great numbers in ship channel, to S. at night and back in morning. Swin L.V., December 23d and 25th, hundreds and thousands near vessel, fishing for sprats. L. glaucus, Glaucous Gull.—Farn L.H., December 28th, one to N. Rissa tridactyla, Kittiwake.—Farn L.H., November 13th and 24th, hundreds of Gulls and Kittiwakes fishing round island. Grimsby, January 7th, 1887, saw nine, young and old, brought in by fishing smack, shot at sea. Gulls generally.—Flambro' L.H., February 25th and March 4th, 1886, in great numbers off headland; June 1st, Gulls and Guillemots all day fishing off head in large numbers. Llyn Wells L.V., August 9th, several flocks came in from E.; wind W. Leman and Ower L.V., August 22d, immense numbers about ship, two came on board. Languard L.H., November 5th, December 26th, and January 23d, 1887, large flocks came in with a southerly gale. Yarmouth, October 15th, gale from S., great numbers to south. Cromer, October 17th, great many to N.; wind N.N.E. The Mediterranean Black-headed Gull, Larus melanocephalus, was shot on Breydon Water, Yarmouth, on December 26th, 1886.

Stercorariinæ.—S. catarrhactes, Common Skua.—Redcar, October 14th, shot at sea. S. pomatorhinus and crepidatus, Tees L.V., July 25th, two Skua. Longstone L.H., September 3d, several Richardson's and "Common" Skua seen. Redcar, October 8th, Richardson's Skua shot at sea, Pomatorhine seen at the same time; 14th, three Richardson's Skua (one adult, two immature) shot at sea, one Pomatorhine seen, and several others of both reported out at sea by fishermen; 15th, several of both going N.W., wind S.E., strong. Flamborough, Mr Bailey, writing under date of October 13th (Naturalist, 1886, p. 340), says: "Since October 2d, more sea birds have frequented our coast than I ever remember. Manx Shearwaters, Cinereous Shearwaters, and hundreds of Skuas and Gannets, also Guillemots and Razorbills in their winter plumage. Little Gulls, Terns, one Black Guillemot (immature), and thousands of Kittiwakes feeding in the early morning, several I saw having herrings' tails hanging out of their bills. The birds covered a large area north and south of the headland."

Procellariidæ.—Procellaria pelagica.—Coquet L.H., September 28th, 11 P.M., S.W. (6), one on lantern. Dudgeon L.V., October 28th, one killed; 30th, same. Hasbro' L.V., 30th, 7 P.M. to midnight, many; six killed on deck. Cockle L.V., 31st, five about vessel during night. Llyn Wells L.V., November 7th, 7 P.M. to midnight, about light. Puffinus?—Redcar, August 18th, 6 A.M., ten Shearwaters to N. Many, both Manx and Great Shearwater, off Flambro', early in October.

Alcidæ, Lomvia troile, Common Guillemot.—Longstone L.H. March 4th, first to breeding haunts, left again on 16th, returned for good first week in April. Flambro', February 25th, both Guillemot and Gulls in large numbers on cliffs. U. grylle, Black Guillemot.—Farn L.H., May 11th, one; also one, an immature bird, shot off Flambro' early in October. Spurn L.H., October 26th, E.N.E., a Common Guillemot was killed against the lantern. Fratercula arctica, Puffin.—Longstone L.H., March 15th, first, the bulk returning on April 11th and 12th.

Colymbidæ.—Very many Great Northern and Red-throated Divers reported from various parts of the East Coast between September 1st and the end of the year; only one Black-throated. Diver, recognised as such, Cromer, November 20th, seen off pier at early morning.

Podicipitidæ.—Cley, Norfolk, Red-necked Grebe (P. griseigena), on August 10th; Little Grebe (P. fluviatilis). Spurn L.H., October 7th, 2 A.M., S.S.E., struck and killed. Leman and Ower L.V., December 29th, N.E., one killed at midnight. A considerable immigration into North-East Lincolnshire about the middle of November.

Miscellaneous Notes.

Tees 5 Buoy L.V., April 30th, 1886.—Wind E., light. A great many bumble-bees and a few wasps during day, flying to N.W.; several remained on board. January 15th, 1887.—One seal.

Hartlepool, November.—A fine specimen of the Opah (Lampris luna) brought in.

Coquet Island L.H., September 12th, W. (5).—Hundreds of small Flies all night in lantern.

Outer Dowsing L.V., October 6th.—11 A.M. to 2 P.M., calm and fog. Mr W. Stock writes: "A very large quantity of birds flew over, and a great many flying about the vessel—Starlings, Redwings, Larks, Mountain Sparrows, Golden-Crested Wrens, six Robins, four Redpoles, Chaffinches, and Pewits, about 300 mixed Crows and Rooks—altogether about 600 or more. Birds leaving the vessel appear to go about W. and W.S.W. When the fog cleared and the sun broke through, the Crows were seen passing to W. in three nights from 11 till 11.45 A.M. At noon they came back to the vessel in a body, and remained till 1 P.M. Caught one Redwing Thrush that was struck by a Crow and fell on deck bleeding. Several small birds struck by Crows and fell in water. Two Red-winged Thrushes and one Chaffinch caught on board."

Cockle L.V., September 14th.—11 A.M., calm. Great quantities of small bluish-coloured Flies; left at 1 P.M.

Languard L.V., September.—"The Musquitoes," Mr Owen Boyle writes, "have been very numerous throughout the months of July, August, and September. They have been very troublesome; many people had swelled hands, puffed faces, and even black eyes, from their stings." October 4th.—Lady-birds in large numbers on the breakwater at noon, and up to sunset. At 3 P.M. they were to be seen in thousands.

Swin Middle L.V.—Mr S. Pender, with reference to the migration of the Ringed Plover, writes under date of October 30th: "Concerning the birds which, I think, must be the 'stone-runners,' and their manœuvres, it was very amusing to watch them. The birds were first seen in an eastward direction, and I should think thousands, for when in close contact they had the appearance of a small black cloud; at other times in a long line and half circle, and so on. After they had finished their exercise they separated into two parties, one passing to the westward at no great distance from the vessel, and the other disappeared in the direction where first seen. Sometimes they would rise so high in the air, that they could not be seen without a telescope, at other times apparently touching the water."

Hanois L.H., October 31st, 8 P.M.—A quantity of Silver Gamma Moths; also a few brown ones, but smaller than the Gamma.

Mr Philip W. Munn, writing from Nieder Kaufungen, near Cassel, Germany, under date of March 30th, 1886, says:

"The weather began to break up on Saturday week, and all the snow had disappeared by the following Monday morning. No sooner did the weather begin to break, and even before, than the birds began to rush northwards to their breeding quarters.

"On the 25th of February, quantities of Skylarks flew overhead in small parties in a northerly direction, the wind being S.E. This species stopped here on the 5th of March, and have now taken the place of the Crested Larks, most of which have left.

"On March 12th, I saw a Grey Wagtail; and a Hawfinch arrived and stayed here for a few days, and then departed.

"On the 16th, a large flock of Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, and Rooks (the Books have been very rare during the winter) flew over towards the N.E.; the passing over lasted ten minutes. On many other days later have I also seen small parties of 'Corvidæ' hurrying N.E.

"On March 18th, I saw a Black-Headed Bunting; on the 19th, White and Pied Wagtails arrived. Now the Pied have left, and quantities of the White remain and have begun to build.

"On the 23d, an extraordinary migration of Cranes began, and is going on at intervals now; they are usually flying in a N. or N.E. direction, but yesterday I saw three flying S.E., which has much confused me. On the 23d, a flock settled in the fields near here for a short time. Soon after this flock had gone, no less than nine flights, of from forty to one hundred birds in each flock, flew over at intervals.

"Curiously enough Robins and Thrushes are only summer migrants here; they arrived on the 24th.

"I heard the Chiffchaff on March 25th; and on the same day was another great migration of Cranes.

"On October 15th was the great rush of migratory birds, parties of various sorts continually passing the whole day to the S.W."

List of Wings sent in from Lighthouses and Light-vessels,
East Coast of England.

General Remarks.

As in 1885, the main body of immigrants crossed in two great rushes, corresponding with the first and third weeks in October. This was considerably earlier than the chief general movements of the preceding year. The meteorological conditions of the first period were easterly and south-easterly winds, pressure system cyclonic, accompanied by much fog and thick weather. During the second period the pressure system again mainly cyclonic, but with very variable winds.

As usual Rooks, Daws, Hooded Crows, Starlings, and Larks, occupy a considerable portion of the schedules. Chaffinches also have crossed in extraordinary numbers. They are always numerous, but this autumn their migration has been in considerable excess of previous years. With these exceptions, however, there has been a singular and very marked falling off in some species whose breeding range lies chiefly in the north of Europe. This is specially noticeable in the small arrivals recorded of Fieldfares, Redwings, Ring Ouzels, Bramblings, Snow Buntings, Short-eared Owls, and Woodcocks. Taken altogether, the migratory record for 1886 is a very poor one.

No wild Swans are recorded, the few entries in the schedules having undoubtedly reference to escapes from parks and private waters. Geese and Ducks have appeared quite as numerously as in previous years.

The arrivals of rare and occasional visitants have been few, those of chief interest being three Harlequin Ducks (Cosmonetta histrionica) at the Farn Islands; the Mediterranean Black-headed Gull (Larus melanocephalus), shot on Breydon Water, near Yarmouth; a Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea), shot on Oulton Broad, near Lowestoft; and the reputed occurrences of the Snowy Owl (Nyctea scandiaca) close to the Languard L.H., Suffolk. Of much interest also is the arrival of Shorelarks (Otocorys alpestris) on the coast between the Farn Islands and Yarmouth.

The continued yearly observations show that on the East Coast of England the principal points of arrival for migrants are the mouths of the chief rivers, also those parts of the coast which present either a flat and open shore, or cliffs of low altitude. Considerable stretches of coast, which, as a rule, have a high cliff line, make poor returns, or in some cases no schedules are sent in, indicating a great scarcity of birds.

It is well known that migrants under certain meteorological conditions travel at a great height, when it may fairly be presumed that the physical features of the earth's surface, the trend of mountain chains, or the course of great river systems, have little to do in determining their line, which is from point to point, and without deviation; yet in the vast majority of cases, where migration is visible, birds travel at a comparatively low altitude, so that when passing mountain chains, and even hills of no great altitude, they invariably choose the lines of the valleys, following depressions which, more or less, correspond to the general direction of their course. In the Cheviots I have observed, for two years in succession, that the streams of small migrants from Scotland follow those main valleys which run nearest north and south, sticking closely to the lowest levels, where the brushwood and bracken beds offer greater privacy and security than the bare fell sides. Birds also, when migrating, follow from choice low-lying tracks of land and river courses in preference to elevated plateau and the summit line of mountain ranges.

Bearing these facts in mind, we find that there is a very well-marked line, both of entry and return, at the Farn Islands, on the coast of Northumberland. Scarcely second to this is the mouth of the Tees, both in spring and autumn. The North Yorkshire coast, from south of Redcar to Flamborough, including the north side of the headland, is comparatively barren, few birds appearing to come in between these points. Bridlington Bay and Holderness to Spurn and Lincolnshire, as far as Gibraltar Point, give perhaps the best returns of any on the East Coast. The north of Norfolk is poor, but there are indications in the heavy returns annually sent from the Llyn Wells, Dudgeon, Leman and Ower, and Happisburgh light-vessels, that a closely focused stream pours along the coast from E. to W., to pass inland by the estuary of the Wash and the river systems of the Nene and Welland into the centre of England, and thence probably following the line of the Avon, the north coast of the Severn, and Bristol Channel, and eventually striking across the Irish Sea, to enter Ireland near the Tuskar Rock, off the Wexford coast. This route is undoubtedly the great and main thoroughfare for birds in transit across England to Ireland in the autumn. Large numbers of migrants also which pass inland from the coasts of Holderness and Lincolnshire may eventually join in with the great western highway by the line of the Trent, avoiding altogether the mountainous districts of Wales. These remarks will refer chiefly to the Passerine birds, the Accipitres, Limicolæ, and Gaviæ, also Geese and Ducks, when crossing land, travelling as a rule very high.

To return once more to the East Coast, the Norfolk seaboard between Cromer and Yarmouth and the corresponding light-vessels show a large annual immigration, but the returns are less pronounced between Yarmouth and Orfordness. The coast of Essex, with the northern side of the Thames estuary, is fairly good; but the opposite coast of Kent, from the North to the South Forelands, including the four Goodwin and the Varne light-vessels, is a barren and pre-eminently uninteresting district for arrivals, both as regards numbers and species, the chief migrants seen being such as are following the coast to the south.

Those migrants, which in the autumn follow the East Coast from north to south, pass directly from the Spurn to the Lincolnshire coast without entering the Humber; and there are no indications that they follow the shores of the Wash in and out, but shape their course from about Gibraltar Point to the Norfolk coast. To judge from the well-filled schedules sent in year by year from the Shipwash, Swin Middle, Kentish Knock, and Galloper light-vessels, a closely packed stream passes somewhere from the coast of Suffolk across the North Sea in the line of these stations, both in the spring and autumn, to and from the Continent. Autumn migrants approaching the Humber from the sea do not follow the course of that river into the interior—that is from S.E. to N.W.—the line they take invariably crosses the river diagonally, and is from E.S.E. to W.N.W. This course is so persistently followed, that I have observed year by year, on a migratory day, birds cross our fields at the same angle. Supposing this course to be continued they would strike the Trent at or near Gainsborough.

Except in one instance no returns have been obtained from any stations on the south-east coast between the South Foreland and St Catherine's Point, Isle of Wight. This is much to be regretted, as it is known that a strong migratory highway runs along the South Coast as well as on the French side of the Channel.