In the spring the earliest occurrence of our summer visitants is as frequently recorded at the northern as at the southern stations; instance the arrival in 1885 of the Swallow at Spurn on April 8th; the Swift, several, on April 20th; and the Cuckoo at Whitby on April 8th; and in 1886 the arrival of Wheatears at the Farn Islands on February 2 2d. The line of migration of the latter, as yearly observed at the Tees L.V., is from S.E. to N.W.
Addenda to "General Notes," East Coast of England.
Leman and Ower L.V.—Mr T. Artis:—March 19th to 28th, 1886. On March 19th and 25th "Black Crows" N.W. to S.E.; and between March 19th to 28th, Skylarks, Starlings, Chaffinches, and others to W. March 28th, at 9 P.M., S.S.E., fog. One Fieldfare, three Starlings, three Chaffinches, one Woodcock, and three Bramblings killed. Mr Artis also remarks, under date of April 13th, 1886, 5 P.M. and 7 P.M.:—"I have to inform you that this afternoon, being a calm at the time, I saw close to my vessel, about three ship's length off, a very large creature which I believe was some sort of a whale. I never saw such a fish near the Leman and Ower banks (18 fathoms) before. It appeared to be larger than the ship, and came from the N.W., going S.E., and at 7 P.M. he was surrounded by spring herrings—some thousands—leaping out of the water from three to four feet. It was a beautiful sight."
There is a very interesting schedule, which is carried forward to the next report (1886), from the Longstone L.H., Mr Thomas O. Hall. A Woodcock was flushed on the 3d of April on the rock, which flew E. On April 7th, at 9.30 A.M., two flocks of Hooded Crows passed to mainland, wind W., strong; and on the 13th a small flock of Books passed to mainland at 7.30 A.M., wind S.E. and E. There was a great flight of Fieldfares, Redstarts, and Wheatears, and other kinds, round the lantern between 12 and 1 A.M. on the 28th April. As soon as the wind shifted to the N.E. all the birds left.
HELIGOLAND.
Ornithological Almanac for 1885.[11]
[11] Contributed by Mr Gätke.
January
1st and 2d.—
3d.—Fringilla chloris, very many. Alauda arvensis and Turdus pilaris, numerous.