THE ZOOLOGIST
No. 672.— June, 1897.
MIGRATIONat theSPURN LIGHTHOUSEin 1896.
By John Cordeaux, F.R.G.S., M.B.O.U.
The new lighthouse on the Spurn, which was lighted for the first time on the night of September 12th and 13th, 1895, throws abeam equal to 80,000 candles in fine, and 100,000 in stormy weather. The light is visible twenty to thirty miles at sea under favourable conditions of the atmosphere. I am indebted, through Dr. Hewetson, of Leeds, to Mr. W.Y. Counter, one of the lightkeepers, for the following record of birds which struck the lantern in 1896.
January.
3rd.— A large number of small birds flying round the lantern; three or four Larks caught. Weather foggy with southerly light airs.
14th.—One Golden Plover and several Knots struck the lantern and killed between two and six o'clock a.m. The weather very clear but dark with a drizzling rain and a moderate breeze from S. and S.E.
February.
7th.— One Knot killed. Weather foggy; wind W.S.W.
13th.—Caught a Snow Bunting against lantern. Overcast and dark; wind light W.
15th.—One cock Blackbird and twelve Starlings. Overcast, but clear; wind E.
March.
7th.—Many Starlings flying round the light, two caught. Wind S., fog and drizzle.
