Thanks again to Messrs. Gray and Anderson, I have some interesting items of migration to record, taken by the latter gentleman on board the steamship 'Marathon' in the Atlantic. These are best given in extenso; and land-notes will be given after the paragraphs on each species or group.
Steamship 'Marathon,' outward bound from Liverpool, April 16th, 1884.
April 17th.—A small bird came on board at 7 p.m., 15 miles from nearest land. (Position of ship at noon, Queenstown). Wind easterly for ten hours previous, and was increasing to moderate gale from E.N.E. when the bird was seen. From the description of this bird it can scarcely have been other than a Whinchat or Stonechat. No Petrels.[1]
[1] The lat. and long, give the ship's position at noon each day.
April 18th.—At 7 p.m., another, precisely the same species as yesterday's, 310 miles from land; not caught. Eight Kittiwakes and four Manx Shearwaters. Wind light E. all day. (Position of ship at noon, lat. 51° N., long. 15° 47′ W.). No Petrels.
April 19th.—Two Kittiwakes all day, till 580 miles from land. Little Auks[2] (?) seen frequently in parties of two to eight all day. Two Shearwaters, 600 miles from land. Lat. 60° 1′, long. 22° W.
[2] Called "Little Puffins," size of Water Ouzel, in notes.
April 20th.—At 8 a.m., one Manx Shearwater, 770 miles out. Several pairs of little Auks during forenoon. At 5 p.m., two Black-backed Common Shearwaters, 870 miles from land, outward bound. No Petrels.
April 21st.—At 7 a.m., two Common Shearwaters, 1090 miles from Fastnet. At 11.30 a.m., two Wilson's Petrels, 1145 miles out. Lat. 46° 37′, long. 36° 18′; calm. (Note.—Previous to this date the note was appended to each day's entry, "No Petrels.")
April 22nd.—At 8 a.m., one Wilson's Petrel (i.e., Oceanites oceanicus, Kuhl.), 1400 miles out from Fastnet; and one at 4 p.m., 1500 miles. At 7 p.m., two large Puffins[3] flying south. Wind light E. Lat. 44° 11′, long. 42° 22′.