Wren, Troglodytes parvulus.—At Farne Inner L.H., Nov. 23rd, several. At Whitby L.H., Sept. 27th, 10 a.m., Wrens with many other small birds, remaining a few hours and then going south. At Spurn L.H., Sept. 21st, one caught on lantern. At Great Cotes, early in October, many. At East Goodwin L.V., 10 a.m., four from N.W. came on board.
Paridæ.—Oct. 14th, N.W., windy. Great Titmouse (Parus major), some; Blue Titmouse (P. cæruleus), a great many passed over in the afternoon of Oct. 10th, N.E., windy; and again a great many on the 11th, under the same conditions. At Great Cotes, Oct. 14th, Great Tit, many; Blue, some; and Coal Titmouse (Parus ater), a few. Dec. 9th, P. major, several, "second rush." Migratory flocks of the Long-tailed Titmouse (Acredula rosea) occurred near Cromer in October.
Motacillidæ.—At Heligoland, Aug. 27th, Blue-headed and White Wagtails (Motacilla flava and alba), great many young birds. Sept. 1st, M. flava, pretty large numbers with other birds, all restless, passing over; 9th, E., fine. Yellow Wagtail, Budytes (M. Raii), great many; 15th, forenoon, M. flava, astounding numbers, late in afternoon in great flights overhead, going north to south; 27th, M. alba, some. The only migration of Wagtails over Heligoland in August and September, with one exception, appears to have been confined to these two well-known European species—the Blue-headed and White Wagtails of the Continent. The Grey Wagtail (M. sulphurea) was first observed at Great Cotes first week in October, and on Norfolk Coast, Sept. 25th.
Tree Pipit, Anthus trivialis.—At Heligoland, Aug. 22nd, young birds; 23rd, same; 24th, same, but less numbers; 26th, Meadow Pipit (A. pratensis), great many (oftentimes with smart breeze), also many Tree Pipits; 31st, Richard's Pipit (A. Richardi), one. Sept. 1st, Tree Pipits, pretty large numbers; 9th, E., fine. Tree and Meadow Pipits, great many, and two A. Richardi seen; 15th, forenoon, Richard's Pipit, some, once seven together, none shot; late in afternoon. Meadow Pipits, great flights. Tree Pipits less; 16th, Tawny Pipit (A. campestris), two; 27th, Meadow Pipits, a few. Oct. 6th, Meadow Pipits with Larks in great flights passing overhead. At Coquet L.H., October, 9 a.m., half a score Titlarks. At Spurn, Sept. 6th, migrating with Swallows, but in separate flocks, bents full of Titlarks arriving from sea, came from N.E., wind W. At Leman and Ower L.V., Sept. 13th, Titlarks, numbers on board, fifteen caught. At Swin Middle L.V., Aug. 29th, 6 p.m., two Titlarks and six species of small birds on board, left for W. At Casquets L.H., Aug. 18th, 2 a.m., about fifty struck. Sept. 6th, midnight to 3 a.m., twenty struck. Rock Pipit (A. obscurus), Sept. 28th, first seen on Lincolnshire coast; Sept. 22nd, on Norfolk coast.
Shore Lark, Otocorys alpestris.—At Heligoland, Oct. 4th, about twenty; 5th and 6th, some; 17th, twenty to forty; 19th, great many; 20th, flights from twenty to one hundred; 21st, great many; 23rd, still larger flights; 26th, a few. Also great numbers in November and up to Dec. 18th; on Nov. 15th, thousands, in flights of hundreds. On the English coast the occurrences of the Shore Lark have been numerous. At Farne Islands, one shot in the autumn. At Scarborough, Mr. Roberts states that since the severe weather in January, 1881, Shore Larks in small flocks have visited the coast, and several have been shot and taken to him. At Spurn, Dec. 12th, flock of thirteen seen. My informant, who is well acquainted with the bird, says, "resting apparently as I was within six yards of them." At Skegness, Lincolnshire coast, last week in October, eight shot. Near Bedford, Oct. 28th, several seen, two shot ('Field,' Nov. 6, 1880). On Norfolk coast a flock at Blakeney, which remained near the place for two months, and others near Yarmouth. At Dover two procured in December.
Sky Lark, Alauda arvensis.—The entrances of the migration of the Sky Lark at the East Coast stations are far too numerous to note separately. In many cases they occupy a large portion of the returned schedules, and individually far outnumber any other species. At Heligoland the migration commenced Sept. 25th, already great many overhead; 27th, 9 to 10 p.m., passing. Oct. 5th, morning, great many; 6th, afternoon, great flights overhead; 19th, late in forenoon, great flights passing on; 20th, with Starlings, hundreds of thousands passing overhead and over the sea; 21st, same; 27th considerable passage in the night; 28th, many thousands over the sea; and after this in flights through November and December. On our East Coast they are noticed at thirty-one of the stations making returns, from the Farne Islands to the Casquets, Alderney. At Farne Island L.H., Sept. 30th to Oct. 31st. At Coquet L.H., Dec. 19th. At Teesmouth 5 Buoy L.V., Sept. 25th to Nov. 21st. On Oct. 24th, all day, "great rush." Nov. 21st, "second rush." At Teesmouth, Oct. 6th to 30th. At Whitby L.H., Oct. 14th to Nov. 23rd. At Flamborough in October. At Spurn L.H., Sept. 15th to Jan. 13th. At Spurn L.V., Oct. 6th to 27th—from 9th to 15th every day continuous. At Great Cotes, September, last week, every day and on to Nov. 4th. At Outer Dowsing L.V., Oct. 13th to Dec. 6th; "great rush," Oct. 13th to end of month; "second rush," Nov. 12th. At Inner Dowsing L.V., Oct. 27th to Jan. 4th. At Dudgeon L.V., Oct. 4th to Dec. 15th; "great rush," Oct. 17th and 20th, and night of 27th. At Lynn Well L.V., Oct. 5th to 23rd, on seven days great numbers; 11th, 12th and 13th, continuous during day ("great rush"); after this, from Oct. 23rd to Jan. 3rd, in less numbers. On Jan. 1st, 2nd and 3rd, with Knot; sixteen Larks and fifteen Knots killed against lantern. At Hunstanton L.H., Oct. 8th, great many. At Cromer L.H., Sept. 20th to Jan. 2nd, eleven struck and killed. At Leman and Ower L.V., Sept. 28th to Oct. 27th, on eleven days, day and night; Oct. 23rd, 26th and 27th, "great rush." At Hasbro' L.V., Sept. 1st to Oct. 22nd. At Hasbro' L.H., Sept. 13th to Dec. 27th, thirty killed. At Newarp L.V., Sept. 24th to Oct. 17th. At Cockle L.V., Sept. 27th to Oct. 22nd; Oct. 11th and 22nd, continuous. At Corton L.V., Oct. 7th to Nov. 7th; Oct. 22nd, continuous. At Galloper L.V., Oct. 9th to Nov. 11th, on seventeen days in large flocks, up to five hundred in a flock; Oct. 31st, 11 p.m., half a gale, thirty killed; Nov. 2nd, 10 p.m. to sunrise, about same number, and many on night of 6th, with other birds. At Kentish Knock L.V., only on Oct. 17th. At Shipwash L.V., Sept. 18th, Oct. 4th and 8th, Nov. 22nd; all day, continuous on Oct. 4th. At Swin Middle L.V., Oct. 21st to Jan. 12th. At Tongue L.V., Sept. 27th to Oct. 30th; "rush," Oct. 22nd. On Sept. 27th, hazy, fifty in ship round lantern at 11 p.m.; when stars came out they left. At Goodwin L.V., Sept. 27th to Nov. 7th. At Gull L.V., Oct. 18th to Nov. 2nd. At South-sand Head L.V., Aug. 27th to Nov. 9th. At East Goodwin L.V., Oct. 8th to Jan. 12th. Enormous numbers crossed at these four Goodwin Stations. At Casquets L.H., Oct. 2nd, 11 p.m. to 2 a.m., sixty killed.
The migration of the Lark was carried on all hours of day and night in all weathers from Aug. 27th to Jan. 12th. The "great rush" took place during the last fortnight in October, more crossing probably on the 22nd than any other day, and at Heligoland on 20th and 21st. A "second rush" a month later, on or about Nov. 21st, and a "third rush" on the outbreak of severe weather in the second week in January this year. General line of direction E. to W., sometimes N.E. to S.W., but generally, like the majority of immigrants this season, with a strong trend from points south of east. It is remarkable, as shown by the returns, how frequently Larks are associated in migration with Starlings, either in separate flocks or together; in fact, the two species seem to be inseparable. In a large majority of instances these two meadow-feeders are associated as if impelled to migrate by a common cause.
Wood Lark, Alauda arborea.—At Heligoland, Sept. 28th, four.
Snow Bunting, Plectrophanes nivalis.—At Heligoland, Sept. 17th, a few first arrivals; Oct. 20th, great many; 20th and 26th, a few; Nov. 20th, still great numbers, but very few old birds. At Farne Inner L.H., Oct. 28th to Dec. 20th; "rush," Nov. 16th, and again Dec. 20th. At Teesmouth 5 Buoy L.V., from Nov. 7th to the end of month, nearly on every day, immense numbers passed; all came from N., and were going S.W. At Flamborough, Oct. 8th, first seen; Jan. 13th, great many flocks. At Spurn L.H., third week in October, a few; 29th, many, after great gale from E. and N.E. At Great Cotes, early in November,—1st to 5th,—many; 24th, enormous flocks. At Yarmouth, middle of October. At Harwich, Oct. 30th, many in Orwell river; Nov. 4th, first flock seen near Dovercourt (Zool., 1881, p. 26). None are recorded from stations south of Harwich. The flocks consisted mainly of the young of the year and old females; very few old male birds. The immigration of Snow Buntings on to the north-easterly coasts in four distinct rushes, viz., at the end of October, in November, December, and January, has been attended with corresponding depressions of the barometer and outbursts of Arctic weather, viz., the great gale E. to N.E., Oct. 28th, with heavy snow in Scotland; Nov. 18th to 20th, sharp frosts and heavy snow-storms; Dec. 14th and 15th, the same; and Jan. 11th and 12th, same. Mr. Gätke has observed for some years a very marked decrease in the number of Snow Buntings crossing Heligoland. There has been a very great increase in the number arriving on our east coast for the last six or seven winters, and it is probable that, like the Shore Lark and other Arctic birds, the line of migration now runs further to the west than formerly.
Other Emberizinæ occurred as follows:—At Heligoland, Oct. 11th, Ortolan Bunting, Emberiza hortulana, many young; 24th, same; Sept. 1st, pretty large numbers; 8th and 9th, many; 15th, great many in potato-lands; 29th, Reed Bunting, E. schœniclus, many; Oct. 4th, great many; 6th, same; 8th, great many; 11th, same. Yellow Bunting, E. citrinella, 28th, many; and same and Corn Buntings up to Nov. 20th, few old birds. Little Bunting, E. pusilla, Sept. 26th, one; 30th, one; Oct. 11th, one. On the east coast of England, at Great Cotes, Sept. 30th, E. schœniclus, many. At Spurn, Oct. 26th, a few seen. At South-sand Head L.V., Aug. 29th, four to south.