MUSCICAPIDÆ.—Spotted Flycatcher, Muscicapa grisola.—Thanet, May 1st, first; October 14th, last (very late). Pied Flycatcher, M. atricapilla.—Spring: Flamborough, May 3d, N.E., great rush with Redstarts, and forward to 6th, "the largest arrival ever known." Spurn, same date, great many, "more numerous than ever known before." Malmo (Sweden), April 29th, two. Autumn: Spurn, August 24th, young; 29th, same. Thanet, 30th, N.E., five or six; again on 31st, and from September 1st to 29th. Cley, September 8th.
HIRUNDINIDÆ.—Swallow, Hirundo rustica.—Spring: Hanois L.H., March 30th, a flight, and from April 15th to May 10th, daily. Flamborough, April 8th, N.N.E. (8), 11.30 A.M., first; Great Cotes 14th, Thanet 20th, Orfordness 20th, Yarmouth 17th, Hunstanton 16th, Spurn 17th, Whitby 19th, Tees L.V. 19th, one from E.S.E. to N.W.; 21st, 8 A.M. to 2 P.M., great many to N.W. from E.S.E., and some Martins, and many at intervals to May 29th in same direction. Languard L.H., May 30th to June 5th. Malmo, Sweden, April 22d. Autumn; Tees L.V., September 15th and 16th, great many to S.W. Spurn, September 2d and 5th, all day in small numbers to S. Hunstanton, 15th and 16th, hundreds all day to S., and throughout September at several stations; were last observed at Languard L.H. October 18th. Flamborough, 18th, several. Great Cotes, 19th. Leman and Ower L.V., 24th. In November, three at Flamborough on 1st. Hunstanton, 14th, one to S.W. Thanet, 15th, one. Martin, Chelidon urbica.—Spring: Tees L.V., April 21st, first; some, with Swallows N.W. to E.S.E.; July 7th, 8th, 11th, great many to N.W., and at several stations in April, May, and June. Autumn: Last at Thanet, November 1st. Sand-Martin, Cotile riparia.—Great Cotes, April 22d. Last at Thanet, November 1st.
FRINGILLIDÆ.—Goldfinch, Carduelis elegans.—Hanois L.H., November 1st, fifty to N.W. Siskin, Chrysomitris spinus.—Yarmouth, abundant in December. Serin Finch, Serinus hortulanus.—Yarmouth, June 14th (Zoologist, 1886, p. 28), probably a male. Greenfinch, Ligurinus chloris.—Curiously only one entry in the schedules. Shipwash L.V., January 24th, 1886, one died on board. Common Sparrow, Passer domesticus.—First at Shipwash L.V., September 22d, 2.30 P.M., great flight of Common Sparrows to N.N.W. Kentish Knock L.V., 27th, forty to W., and on 28th. Newarp L.V., October 8th, noon, thirty. Goodwin East L.V., October 20th, a few House Sparrows during day, and on November 10th to 13th. Corton L.V., October 1st, 11th, 12th, 15th, 19th, 21st, 22d, and November 11th, large numbers, several on vessel. Tree Sparrow, P. montanus.—Longstone L.H.. October 16th, one. Cockle and Kentish Knock L.V.'s, October 4th and 30th, at latter in large numbers. Goodwin and Gull L.V.'s, September 28th, 29th, and October 28th, 30th, great rush. South Sand Head, October 12th, 7 A.M., some to N.W., and on December 2d one. Very few, as a rule, came in north of the Humber. Chaffinch, Fringilla cœlebs.—First at Outer Dowsing L.V. September 18th, one. Arrived mainly in two great flights, October 12th to 16th, and November 10th to 13th, as observed at several stations. Brambling, F. montifringilla.—Spring: Thanet, April 19th, last seen. Autumn: October 14th to 17th, and a second flight November 11th to 12th, practically at the same periods as the former.[9] Linnet, Linota cannabina.—Comparatively few notices, and no Twites. Mealy and Lesser Redpoles, L. linaria and rufescens.—Cockle L.V., October 14th, one. Outer Dowsing L.V., 16th, two. Leman and Ower L.V., 18th, one caught (Mealy Redpoles), flying from E.N.E. to S.W. Spurn, about November 11th, one Mealy Redpole. Hasbro' L.V., November 23d, one Redpole caught. Yarmouth, in December, abundant. It is probable all the notices refer to L. linaria.
[9] Bramblings are reported as having been more plentiful in Lincolnshire and Norfolk than has been the case for very many years. In the Migration Report for 1883, the Hawfinch is recorded at the Inner Dowsing L.V. on November 2d, and at the same station in the previous year on October 20th. I have recently ascertained from Mr William King that he was mistaken in his identification, and that the birds were Bramblings.
EMBERIZINÆ.—Yellow Bunting, Emberiza citrinella.—Whitby, March 16th, great number during week commencing on the 16th. Snow Bunting, Plectrophanes nivalis.—Spring: Tees L.V., March 1st, flocks. Farn L.H., 4th, two. Yarmouth, 22d, four, 3 P.M., on north light. Farn L.H., April 11th, one. Autumn: Cley, September 26th, one, and at several stations in October and November; rushes October 16th and 24th, N.E., half-gale, and November 18th and 25th.
ALAUDIDÆ.—Sky-Lark, Alauda arvensis.—The occurrences are far too numerous to record separately; in some cases the entries fill a considerable portion of the schedules. They are noted at thirty stations on the east coast, sixteen of which are light-vessels. Spring, 1885: Longstone L.H., April 7th, and Cockle L.V., May 6th; some to W. at intervals during the day. Autumn: First at Cockle L.V. September 7th, and sparingly at other stations during the month to the 28th and 29th, when the numbers greatly increased. A very heavy immigration in October, and from the 12th to 20th an almost continuous rush night and day, covering the whole of the east coast; in less numbers in November to the 20th, when the migration appears to have almost ceased. The great bulk appear to have arrived in two enormous and almost continuous flights on October 15th, 16th, 17th, and November 10th and 11th—in the latter case in less numbers; very sparingly in December and up to January 25th, 1886. A strong return migration to the Continent is indicated at the Shipwash L.V. on February 14th and 15th N.E. at night, also during the day on the 15th from W. to E., and at the Newarp L.V. March 19th to 21st, likewise to E. At the same station, from January 25th, 1886, to February 14th, Larks passing to the W. Shore-Lark, Otocorys alpestris.—Yarmouth, November 26th, one found dead; several seen in February. Flamborough, January 4th, 1886, one shot.
STURNIDÆ.—Starling, Sturnus vulgaris.—At twenty-one stations. Dudgeon L.V., July 10th, three young alighted on vessel, and then to W.N.W. None are recorded in August and September till the 28th at Shipwash L.V., some flights; enormous numbers in October, especially from the 12th to 19th, frequently associated with Larks, and large numbers of both killed at the light-vessels; proportionately less in November, with heavy rushes from the 12th to 23d. A very considerable spring migration indicated at Shipwash L.V. both to the E. and W. from February 10th to March 21st, 1886.
CORVIDÆ.—Daw, Corvus monedula.—Longstone L.H., March 12th, N., several to W.; April 3d to W. at dawn. Autumn: At several stations, generally in company with Rooks. Carrion Crow, C. corone.—Tees L.V., October 19th, five; 24th, twelve. Dudgeon L.V., October 5th to November 11th, many with Rooks. Tongue L.V., December 11th, one on deck; great numbers of "Black Crows" are recorded at various stations, which may refer either to this or the Rook. Hooded Crow, C. cornix.—Spring, 1885: Outer Dowsing L.V., March 1st, large flights from W.N.W. to E.S.E. 10 A.M. Hunstanton, April 7th, many near lighthouse. Thanet, 19th, last. Autumn: First at Hasbro' L.V. October 2d, small flocks all day S.E. to N.W. Great numbers in October at various stations, chiefly between the Humber and Thames, and an almost continuous rush between 15th and 17th. A very considerable immigration in November, specially from 9th to 12th. Rook, C. frugilegus.—Longstone L.H., March 11th and 14th, 1885, many to E.; April 4th, 15th, 17th, and 20th, several to W. Cockle L.V., May 2d, continuous flocks during day to N.W., S.W., and N. Northrepps, March 22d and 23d, 1886, Rooks and Crows to E.S.E. Autumn: Immense numbers at various stations in October and November, with continuous rushes corresponding with those of the Grey Crow.[10] Raven, C. corax.—Outer Dowsing L.V., March 6th, 3 A.M., two ravens, one caught. Malmo, Sweden, February 7th, one passing overhead N.E. to S.W.—exactly the same line as observed for nine successive years.
[10] Mr J. H. Gurney, Sen., writes:—"Lord Lilford sends me word that on 20th of March 1886, Mr G. Hunt saw an extraordinary flight of Rooks at Somerton, which he observed from 10.30 A.M. till 6 P.M., when he left, but the flight was still going on. He wrote to Lord Lilford:—'I observed them flying just above the sandhills, going due south, and as far as the eye could see both before and behind there was nothing but Rooks. There would never for one moment of the day be less than a thousand in sight at one time; they kept in a thin wavering line. The coast line here runs due north and south.'" Mr J. H. Gurney, Jun., writes:—"I saw the same Rooks and Grey Crows on the same day in much smaller numbers as were seen at Somerton (Norfolk coast), which is fifteen miles further south. I again saw them on the 21st, 22d, 25th, 26th, 29th, but none after that date. Mr Hunt says they were all Rooks, but with me Grey Crows preponderated; direction to S.E." In connection with this read Mr Gätke's notes of migration as observed at Heligoland and Hanover between March 19th and 25th, 1886, on the last page of his journal.
CYPSELIDÆ.—Swift, Cypselus apus.—Spurn, April 20th, eight on window-sill of tower; 22d, several; June 29th, 11 A.M., fifty round lantern. At Yarmouth May 7th, and Thanet and Hunstanton on 8th, Malmo 10th. Autumn: Many to S. along coast first week in September. Wryneck, Jynx torquilla.—Thanet, April 19th, 25th; May 10th, 18th; June 14th, three distinct arrivals. Farn L.H., May 15th, one picked up dead. Common Roller, Coracias garrulus.—Felthorpe, near Norwich, October 24th, adult female. Cuckoo, Cuculus canorus.—Whitby, April 8th; Hanois L.H., Guernsey, 10th, two; Flambro' 17th, Spurn 18th, Farn L.H. 29th. Malmo May 13th, Tongue L.V. 19th, 10.30 P.M., one struck and killed. Autumn: Hunstanton L.H., July 16th, 2 A.M., N.W., one killed. Roker, August 6th, one young. Spurn, 7th, midnight O.M., one killed; 17th, two young on sandhills. Thanet, 8th, and September 3d and 4th. Farn L.H., August 9th, 6 P.M.