April 7th, Turdus iliacus, S., very fresh; rain.
May 8th, Saxicola œnanthe, S.E., light air; clear.
April 24th, Motacilla alba, N.E., stormy; clear.
May 24th, Anthus pratensis, N.E., storm; light showers.
April 25th, Scolopax gallinago, N.E., storm; light showers.
April 19th, Totanus calidris, E., very fresh; dry.
May 11th, Numenius phæopus, N.E., very fresh; light showers.
April 17th, Charadrius pluvialis, N.E., very fresh; clear.
April 19th, Tringa alpina, N.E., very fresh; clear.
May 3rd, T. cinerea, E., blowing hard; clear.
April 29th, Strepsilas collaris, N.E., storm; snow showers.
April 26th, Tringa hiaticula, N.E., scorm; dry.
May 23rd, Phalaropus cinerea, N.E., blowing hard; clear.
May 24th, P. platyrhincha, N.E., storm; snow showers.
April 9th, Falco cæsius, N.E., very fresh; rain.
April 9th, Limosa melanura, N.E., very fresh; rain.
April 9th, Hæmatopus ostralegus, N.E., very fresh; rain.
March 30th, H. ostralegus.
April 30th, Fringilla linaria, N.E. storm, cloudy; rain.
April 30th, Loxia serinus, N.E. storm, cloudy; rain.
March 15th, Uria grylle, N.E.; clear.
March 15th, U. brunnichii, N.E.; clear.
March 15th, U. troile, N.E.; clear.
March 15th, U. alle, N.E.; clear.
March 15th, Alca torda, N.E.; clear, hard.
April 25th, Mormon fratercula, N.E., very fresh.
April 30th, Carbo cormoranus, N.E., light air.
April 30th, C. graculus, N.E., light air.
April 30th, Puffinus arcticus, N.E., light air.
Faroe.—From Faroe, thanks again to our friend Herr H. C. Müller, we have the following report, some twelve entries or so between Jan. 1st and Sept. 10th, 1883:—
On Jan. 1st three Wild Swans, C. musicus, seen flying S. at noon. On April 28th one Gallinula chloropus, Waterhen, taken alive in Vaay in Bordó. Between May 3rd and 11th several White Wagtails seen during N.N.E., stormy, with snow at different localities in the islands. On May 27th two Red-necked Phalaropes were seen on the sea near Thorshavn during S.W. wind, moderate, with showers of rain.
In August White Wagtails again appeared, when several were seen on the 21st at Thorshavn at noon, fresh W. breeze and clear. Between Aug. 28th and Sept. 10th, Whimbrels (see under Whimbrel, Curlew) were preparing for departure, and disappeared on the last-named date. During this time the winds were from N.W. on Aug. 28th by N. to N.E. on Aug. 30th to Sept. 3rd, and W. on the 10th, the day of departure.
Note.—Herr H. C. Müller informs me that a lighthouse will be shortly erected at Nossoe, in Faroe, eighty feet above the sea. Herr Müller considers that this will prove a good station for observing birds during migration. Suderöe would also be a good observatory. He also told me of the occurrence, for the first time, of Sciurus noveboracensis at Nordtalik, Greenland, about May, 1882; and of the occurrence also of a young Sabine's Gull at the same place. I have a young Sabine's Gull, brought home last year (1883) by the whalers to Dundee.
Of the progress of the scheme of accumulation of migrational data in other parts of the world, we may notice here that Dr. Arthur proposes to take up the subject at the lighthouses in New Zealand, and will send the Committee his schedules for arrangement.
Our American friends have made a promising start with similar intentions, but of a much wider scope, as is shown by the circular, which we here reprint, as it will show to our reporters other collateral subjects which offer plenty of opportunity for observation, and which can easily be made as applicable here as in North America, as regards our commoner species. Schedules somewhat more elaborate than ours have been issued also to lighthouses in America:—
"At the first congress of the American Ornithologists' Union, held in New York City, Sept. 26th-28th, 1883, a Committee on the Migration of Birds was appointed. It is the purpose of this Committee to investigate in all its bearings, and to the fullest extent possible, the subject of the migration of birds in the United States and British North America. The work will not be limited to the accumulation of records of the times of arrival and departure of the different species, but will embrace the collection of all data that may aid in determining the causes which influence the progress of migration from season to season. For example, severe storms, gales of wind, protracted periods of unusually high or low temperature (for the locality and time of year) are among the atmospheric conditions that are known to exert marked effects upon the movements of birds. The opening of the leaves and the flowering of certain plants, with the correlative appearance of a multitude of insects, are also among the factors that have to do with the abundance of many species. Hence the careful registration of certain meteorological phenomena, and of the state of advancing vegetation from day to day, will constitute prominent items in the record books of the observer.
"For convenience in collecting and arranging the enormous mass of material which will be accumulated by the joint labours of this army of field workers, it has been deemed advisable to divide the vast expanse of territory embraced in the United States and British North America into thirteen districts, each of which will be placed under the immediate direction of a competent superintendent."
Some time ago we received application from China for schedules and letters of instructions, but as yet we have had no further communication from that quarter. We would be glad to hear of the scheme being started there also. Most of the lighthouse-keepers there are Scotch and English.