Wheatear, Saxicola ænanthe.—At Bishop Rock, Aug. 17th, 1.30 a.m., three struck the glass, light E. breeze, cloudy; Aug. 22nd, midnight, mod. E.S.E. breeze, cloudy and misty, Wheatears strike; none killed on either occasion.
Chiffchaff and Goldcrest, Sylvia hippolais and Regulus auricapillus,—At Scarweather, July 30th, 1 p.m., a Goldcrest was seen. At Flatholm, Oct. 14th, a large quantity of Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs were seen at 9.40 a.m., gentle E. breeze, blue sky, but clouds and mist. Mr. Dale reports that, at this station, "These little birds generally make their appearance about the beginning of October, and remain till about the middle of November. In spring again, from about March 20th to May. Numbers are killed by striking the lantern on dark nights."
Titmouse, Parus cæruleus.—At Burnham, Aug. 16th, 3 p.m., mod. N.N.E. breeze, "a large flock of Blue Tits perched on the trees, &c." At Caldy, midnight, a Titmouse (species not identified) was seen flying about the glass.
Wagtail, Motacilla (sp. ?)—Returns only from Morecambe Bay. Aug. 26th, 6.15 a.m., one alighted on deck; 27th, 7 a.m., one passed E., and at 8.30 a.m. one E.N.E.; 30th three, and 31st six passed; Sept. 1st two were seen, and on 4th six; 12th, one passed W., a gentle breeze W.S.W.; 16th, five, S.E., a strong breeze from N.; 27th, flocks, with Linnets, were observed during the forenoon, a light breeze S. by W., and several small birds killed. These occurrences all happened between 5 and 8.30 a.m. In almost every case the weather was cloudy, misty, or foggy, with gentle breezes, varying, but mostly E.S.E. or easterly. The direction of flight S.E. and E.S.E.
Sky Lark and Meadow Pipit, Alauda arvensis and Anthus pratensis,—On two occasions the Meadow Pipit is distinguished; possibly some of the notes on "Larks" may refer to it. From Morecambe Bay, Sept. 8th, 6 a.m., four Titlarks are reported flying S.W., a gentle breeze E.N.E. From Smalls, Nov. 3rd, mod. E. breeze, one was seen in company with Blackbirds and Redwings. Of Larks, the earliest appearance noted is Aug. 27th, when, at Morecambe Bay, seven passed flying S. by E., light E.S.E. breeze; Sept. 1st, 5.30 p.m., about thirty passed Nash, flying S., a gentle W.N.W. breeze; and on 3rd, at noon, about twenty passed N., light E.S.E. breeze. These occurrences are noticed from both stations. At Caernarvon, Sept. 4th, one was killed. At Lundy, Sept. 9th, a number, with Chaffinches, were seen, fresh E.S.E. breeze, rain and squally; these were noticed from both stations. At Scarweather, same day, two were seen. At Morecambe Bay, a dozen passed flying S. At Skerries, Sept. 23rd, 9.30 to 11 p.m., many Larks and Linnets were striking, but none killed. At Scarweather, Sept. 24th, mod. W. breeze, a large number of Larks. From the two stations at Nash, Sept. 25th, a large flock of Sky Larks were observed passing N.E. At Skerries, Sept. 26th and 27th, Larks were seen. At Caernarvon, Sept. 29th, 9.15 a.m., a flock passed S.E. At Caldy, same day, 10 p.m., two male Sky Larks and a White Gull were flying about the lantern, light S.E. breeze, fog. At South Bishop, Sept. 30th, four larks were killed, fog. Through September they appear, as the month advanced, to have been noticed in greater numbers and farther south. The appearances are nearly all in the daytime; breezes light or gentle, varying from W. through S. to E. Direction of flight, when noticed, towards S. or S.E., except at Nash, where, on Sept. 3rd, some passed N., and on 25th some N.E. At Godrevy, Oct. 4th, 1 to 2 a.m., mod. E.N.E. breeze, a Lark, Petrel, and two foreign Wrens were seen, and three birds killed. At Nash, Oct. 5th, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., continuous flocks passed S.E., with mod. E.N.E. breeze, and rain; the same direction followed, though wind veered round to W.S.W. At Helwick, Oct. 8th, 2 a.m., one was killed, strong E.S.E. breeze, rain and lightning. At Smalls, same date, 7.30 p.m. to midnight, continuous flocks of Sky Larks, Redwings and Starlings, and about twenty struck; 9th, midnight to 5 a.m., Sky Larks and Redwings, eleven struck, mod. to strong E. to E.N.E. breeze, clear. At Nash, Oct. 10th, a flock of Sky Larks was observed from both stations flying N.W., strong N.E.; breeze; 13th, with mod. E.N.E. breeze, a like flock going E. At South Bishop, Oct. 13th, 1 to 4 a.m., light S.E. air, clouds and mist, five Larks and nine Blackbirds met their fate. At Smalls, Oct. 12th, about thirty struck the roof (with Starlings) from 1 a.m. to daylight; and at Skerries, at intervals during same day, small flocks were seen passing towards the land. At Morecambe Bay, same day, about 10.20 a.m., a flock of Larks passed S.S.W. At Helwick, Oct. 15th, 4.30 a.m., several Larks and Starlings were seen. At Morecambe Bay, Oct. 16th, 2.30 p.m., a flock passed E.N.E. At Caernarvon Bay, Oct. 19th, 1 to 4 p.m., continuous flocks passed E.S.E., fresh E. by N. breeze. At Helwick, Oct. 21st, gentle N.E. breeze, a flock from S.W. to N.E. At Caernarvon, Oct. 22nd, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., mod. E. gale, with haze, flocks of Larks and Starlings passed S.E.; 24th, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., similar flocks passed S.S.E., with a mod. N.N.W. breeze. At Helwick, Oct. 30th, 11 a.m., light N.N.E. breeze, "several hen Larks" passed from S.W. to N.E. At South Stack, same day, 7 a.m. to noon, fresh N.W. breeze, clear, continuous flocks (with Starlings, Linnets, and Chaffinches) passed to N.W. Throughout October the movement appears to have been active and pretty general along the coast; the time of occurrence in the greater number of cases between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.; the direction of flight, when recorded, generally easterly; in most instances mist, rain and fog, with—generally—moderate E.N.E. to E. breezes. At Morecambe Bay, Nov. 1st, five passed S.E., mod. N.N.E. breeze; 2nd, three in same direction, mod. S.E. breeze. At South Bishop, from midnight to the morning of 2nd, fresh S.E. breeze, very misty, "a very great quantity of Larks, Thrushes," &c., and "continuous flocks" all day, flying towards N.W.; 3rd, 9 p.m. to midnight, enormous quantities, &c. (see "Song Thrush.") At Caernarvon, Nov. 2nd, 9.10 p.m., a young Lark was killed, gentle E.S.E. breeze, hazy; 3rd, 1 to 4 a.m., still hazy, two Larks killed. At Helwick, Nov. 2nd, 1 p.m., fresh S.E. breeze, "a flock of hen Larks" passed to N.E., and at 8 p.m., several more, of which some were slain; overcast and misty. At Nash (W. or low), Nov. 14th, noon, flights of Sky Larks and Starlings passed overhead, strong W.S.W. breeze, clouds and mist. These are all the instances reported in November; most of them occurred at night, and, being of birds striking, the direction of flight is not recorded; the winds generally moderate and from E. to S.E.; on every occasion with mist, haze, or fog. After Nov. 14th we have no record till Dec. 3rd, when flocks of Larks passed Skerries at midnight, gentle S. breeze, misty. At Scarweather, Dec. 8th, 11 p.m., two Larks, mod. W.N.W. breeze, gloomy and misty. At Lundy, same day, S.W. breeze, a great number of Sky Larks were seen, and Mr. Parsons adds, "these are seen daily," but for how long is not stated. At Caernarvon L.V., Dec. 13th, 2 to 5 a.m., four young Larks were killed, mod. N. by W. breeze, drizzling rain. At Milford, Jan. 11th, a quantity of Larks, Plovers, and Starlings arrived and remained all day. At South Stack, Jan. 12th, strong N.E. breeze and passing showers of snow, continuous flocks of Larks and Starlings passed all day; and on 13th, a large quantity was on the island all day. This is the latest instance recorded. In all, we have returns from fifteen stations, of which all but Milford and the two at Nash are off the coast. The direction of flight, judging from the instances given, seems to have been chiefly towards S.E. and S. (this would be towards the mainland). The chief movement seems to have been from Sept. 9th to Nov. 3rd, and increasing towards November. In the majority of cases, with the breeze moderate, from E. to S.E. and S.; in some from N. and N.E. to E.; generally with mist or gloom.
Yellowhammer, Emberiza citrinella.—At Morecambe Bay, Oct. 12, five passed about midnight, flying S.S.W., gentle breeze from N. to N.E. by E.
Chaffinch, Fringilla cœlebs.—At Lundy, Sept. 9th, 1 p.m., a great number, with Sky Larks, fresh E.S.E. breeze, rain. At Smalls, Oct. 25th, mod. W. breeze, till midnight, some struck and fell overboard; three and a Starling caught. At South Stack, Oct. 30th, fresh N.W. breeze, flocks, with Starlings, Larks and Linnets, passed flying N.W.
Mountain Sparrow, Passer montanus.—This species is distinguished only in the returns from North Stack. Sept. 24th, 8.40 a.m., a flock passed S.W.; 26th, 2.30 p.m., with mod. S.W. breeze, a flock passed N.W.; Oct. 12th, 8.40 a.m., two flocks flying N.E.; 15th, 7.30 a.m., six passed S.W., mod. S. breeze; Dec. 24th, 3.10 p.m., fresh N.W. breeze, thirty passed E.; Jan. 12th, 2.30 p.m., a flock passed S.W., before a strong N.E. breeze, with snow.
Common Sparrow, Passer domesticus.—At Nash, Sept. 27th, 6 a.m., a flight passed N.N.W. (observed from both stations), light N.E. breeze. At North Stack, Dec. 3rd, 11 a.m., a flock of Sparrows was seen flying N.E., against a mod. S.W. breeze.
Greenfinch, Coccothraustes chloris.—At Smalls, Oct. 15th, 1 a.m. to daylight, many struck the roof, along with Starlings, Blackbirds, &c., mod. E.S.E. to S.E. breeze, misty; Nov. 5th, before sunrise, mod. W. breeze, cloudy but clear horizon, two males and one female were caught alive, together with Thrush, Blackbird and Starling.