Lamlash.—David M. Scott and Robert Brown send a light schedule, except on the 6th October, when they appear fully to have participated in that extraordinary rush. "We could make out Curlews, Lapwings, Thrushes, Goldcrests, Linnets, Blackbirds, Wrens—the largest number ever seen in one night at this station;" further proving the magnitude and wide-spread character of the 1886 autumn migration, as well as its singularly compressed nature.
Turnberry.—Andrew Nisbet and William Begg send three well-filled day-to-day schedules. Curiously enough, the "rush" of October—which is quite the feature of our 1886 Report—is only comparatively emphasised here; but while the emphasis is moderate, it is also quite equally pronounced when compared with records at the same station. Thus, whilst only 1, 2, or 3 birds struck, or were seen at the lantern all through the season, a spring movement was more observable about the 10th February; and the autumn migration rush was emphasised by 13 birds at the lantern on the famous 5th and 6th October, and 5 the following night. Thus, comparatively speaking, the rush was also apparent on that date as elsewhere. All returns at other dates are light.
Corsewall.—An unsigned schedule, well filled and neatly executed, to hand, dating February 4th to October 29th, shows an early spring migration, also in February, of Starlings, Thrushes, and Larks; and "a great rush" of Blackbirds, Thrushes, and Larks (both male and female), and Goldcrests, began to strike at 9 P.M., and continued till daylight. A great many killed of all kinds. Upwards of 100 got in the morning. S.E. fresh breeze, fog and rain. Short, sharp, sudden, and vast, as we do not find another entry till 23d.
Portpatrick.—Mr James Beggs has the remark [which we perfectly agree with, and the reasons for which will shortly appear more decidedly, we believe, when Mr Service treats of the migration of birds in the Solway district, in his intended "Fauna of Solway."—J. A. H.-B.] to the effect that: "The migration of birds again very slight this season. As I remarked to you in my schedule last year, I think it is our prevailing winds from the west which keep the birds inland. You will see in my above notes where the winds are easterly." The easterly winds referred to occur throughout all the dates where any occurrences are recorded, viz., on the 4th and 15th September, October 4th, 5th, to 9th, and January 7th, 1887, at which latter date a "great rush" of Larks, coming from the N.W. and going S.E., is recorded. Again, the October 4th, 5th, and 6th rush is distinctly recorded. Not a single record is entered under a westerly wind. They naturally pick up (catch up) the trend of the coast south of Clyde in any winds, but normal westerly winds may—and do—confine them to normal routes more than easterly winds do. Thus, if we had had no easterly winds at this station at all, the probability is that no migration would have been observed; but the more normal route more inland would have been followed. Locally, Mr E. Service is working at these routes with good effect.
Mull of Galloway.—Alex. Murray and John M'Quarrie send three excellent returns. Considerable movements of birds are noted, but again October 4th and 5th have pre-eminence and accentuation.
Little Ross.—Neil M 'Donald and Robert M'Intosh send three well-filled schedules—every line filled. Under date of 6th December, N. M'D, writes: "I beg to send you two schedules, which are all we have. We are marking the birds as we see them on long sheets of paper lined off like the schedules, but when copying them off, I find I have more than will fill another schedule during October and up to date. Please forward two more. Trusting our schedules will meet your approval, etc." [Yes, they are excellent, and we have three fully filled, showing the same results and rush marked off in October as elsewhere. Birds seem well known; yet I think a copy of Johns' Birds should be sent here and to several more stations.—J. A. H.-B.]
Separate Report under Genera and Species.
Turdidæ.—Thrushes, Dipper, Blackbirds, Fieldfare, Ouzels, Redwings, "Mavises."—We find records principally of "Thrushes" between 4th and 22d February at Skervuile (one only on 9th), and at Turnberry and Corsewall (both south of Clyde), on seven dates, but all light. [Thus most of the February early migrants presumably turned across from Clyde to Forth,—J. A. H.-B.] Prevailing wind, S.W. and S.
In March.—Light records at Turnberry on 8th of Thrushes; and north of Clyde single birds at Rona, Skye, and at Skerryvore on 12th, 22d, and 24th. Light records at Skervuile of Fieldfares and Blackbirds on 21st and 25th, and single record of Blackbird at Turnberry (S. of Clyde) on 25th. [Thus while as usual most of the prominent stations report, the returns both N. and S. of Clyde are light, and almost too general to utilise as indications of routes.—J. A. H.-B.] Prevailing wind in March, strong or light, S. and S. easterly. In May—3d, 4th, and 5th—we have a number of Thrushes and Starlings reported from Mull of Galloway in fog and mist, along with Starlings—twenty-two killed on 3d, and eleven on 4th. Wind, strong south breeze.
In Autumn.—First movements noted are 26th and 27th of August at Rona, Skye, of "Mountain Thrushes" (probably Ring Ouzels). [This name is applied to both the Redwing, Fieldfare, and Ring Ouzel, in different parts of Scotland, but most correctly to the latter. The date also is more in favour of the record of Ring Ouzels, as about the dates mentioned they begin to frequent gardens and orchards for berries, etc.—J. A. H.-B.] And at Mull of Galloway and Little Ross, of Blackbirds and Ring Ouzels. Wind, S. and S.E., fresh to strong. [These are also probably migrants from the vicinity of the stations.—J. A. H.-B.] In September a flight of Thrushes on the 4th at Portpatrick. Indication at Kyleakin (N. of Clyde), on 24th, of same species; also on 13th, at Mull of Galloway, of Blackbirds, and larger numbers in flocks at latter station on 22d and 24th. Redwings are noted as early as 20th at Rhinns of Islay only. But in October the numbers of records are very great, too numerous to give in detail. Thus we find the following stations participate:—Skerryvore, ten dates between 5th and 19th. Rush distinct on the 5th, 9 P.M., till 4.30 A.M. on 6th, of "Mountain" and Common Thrushes. Wind, light S.E., and heavy rain. One Blackbird on 6th. At Dhuheartach on 1st, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th. Records of Mavis, 100 all night of 5th, 6th, S.S.E.; Fieldfare, one on 6th; one male Blackbird on 8th; wind N.W. Single Thrush on 8th. [Shows the compressed nature of the rush and preponderance, as elsewhere, of Common Thrush.—J. A. H.-B.] At Skervuile, rush also on 5th and 6th of Thrushes, Fieldfares (the latter in minority). Rush also, however, of Blackbirds noted; entries extend from 2d to 31st, but only on five dates, and all light except on 5th and 6th. [Emphasises above remarks.—J. A. H.-B.] At Rhinns of Islay records on ten dates between 4th and 28th, of Redwings. [Query, were these not Thrushes, or in some of the returns have not Redwings and Thrushes equally done service? N.B.—The Redwing is red beneath the wing, and the Thrush or Mavis yellow. No "Thrushes" so named appear in the Rhinns of Islay schedules, so perhaps "Redwings" do duty?—J. A. H.-B.] Blackbirds—quite a number appear under dates of 22d, 25th, 27th, and 28th. At Lochindaul also, while Thrushes seem to have been little observed at the time of the rush, there are a few records, 19th, 27th, and 28th, and one of Blackbirds on 27th. [The position of Lochindaul (Station CIII.) may sufficiently account for this; nor, however, does the rush appear quite so heavy at Rhinns of Islay (CII.) as it does at Skerryvore (XCIII.), nor at Dhuheartach (XCIV.), whilst Dhuheartach is lighter than Skerryvore. This may or may not indicate that the great body of the migrants have passed to the westward of Rhinns of Islay and even of Dhuheartach, making for the Irish coast. It will be interesting to note what our Irish Committee report upon this.—J. A. H.-B.]