Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 2 (1898).djvu/380

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348
THE ZOOLOGIST.

Mr. Thomas O. Hall sends the following notes from Flamborough Lighthouse: —

"We had a very straggling migration of Rooks and Jackdaws; they commenced on Oct. 21st, and, as we had a continuance of winds from S.S.E. to S.S.W. for seventeen or eighteen days, so the migration continued to Nov. 7th. We had then a great rush of Fieldfares, with scarcely any other birds. It was. the greatest rush of Fieldfares I have seen for at least twenty years during the autumn migration. They commenced about 11 p.m. on the night of Nov. 24th, and continued to daylight on the 25th. I once saw as large a rush of Fieldfares four years ago, in January, coming from the north and flying south; this was after a heavy fall of snow in Scotland.

"On Feb. 13th, at midnight, there was a slight migration of Fieldfares and Golden Plovers; they appeared to come from the eastward, at least they were travelling westward.

"On Feb. 9th, at 9.30 a.m., I was up in the lantern, and, hearing a great cawing, I looked out, and saw a flock of about two hundred Rooks coming from the eastward; they flew over the top of the lantern and settled in the field beyond, feeding for an hour, and then going west. There has been a great migration, but no sorts of birds in any quantity except the Fieldfare. I think this light has never been a good one for birds; they get in the red rays of light and fly away, but in the white ray they get dazzled, and fly to the lantern-windows."