Part 11

Now, the temperature of water having been lowered by the accumulation of ice along the W. coast of Spitzbergen, which is comparatively approximate to the furthest N.E. influence of the Gulf Stream, it seems natural to suppose that a deflection of the branch of the Gulf Stream, caused by the colder Arctic ice and current, the accumulation of which former was caused by the prevailing N. and E. winds on the Arctic Seas, would reach round past the S. end of Spitzbergen to the East Coast, and would cause the unusually open sea there. But the main channel of the Gulf Stream would still be towards the S.W., and would afford the natural outlet for all manner of ocean life, which requires certain temperatures; and which, such as Entomostraca, Copepods, Molluscan larvæ, &c., afford food to other higher organisms.

The great quantity of such food which in ordinary summers and autumns accumulate around the shores of Spitzbergen, or in the warm shallow summer seas off the N. coast of Europe, no doubt retire to deeper water on the approach of winter. In unusually cold seasons the retreat is continued, following the course of the milder Gulf Stream until more temperate seas are reached.

In the course of its retreat it is discovered by vast shoals of fish, which pursue these minute forms of life even to the uttermost limits of its possible extension, up certain firths arid inlets of our East Coast of Scotland. Naturally also the last link of the migratory chain is taken up by the enormous population of Gulls and other species of sea-fowl, as we know has been the case in the winter of 1884-5 in the Firth of Forth.

In the log of the steam whaler 'Eclipse,' Captain D. Gray (see Report, _antea_, p. 7) in summer, repeated mention is made of the unusual abundance of "whale food" in the Spitzbergen seas, and I am indebted also to Captain Gray, through Mr. Thomas Southwell, of Norwich, for a return of sea-temperatures of the same seas.

Mr. Hugh R. Milne, of the Marine Station at Granton, sends me some temperatures taken from the Firth of Forth, extending over June, 1884, to January, 1885, taken at three points, _viz._, Isle of May, Queensferry, and near Alloa. These data, in connection with the vast swarms of sprats or garvies (_Clupea sprattus_) and the attendant thousands of Gulls, are useful for future comparisons, and I append them here. It would be interesting to know similarly taken temperatures of the Tay Estuary, which was completely deserted this season by these migratory fish, and consequently by the birds also. If we had also means of knowing the temperatures of the Firth of Forth in 1872-73, when a similar vast migration of Sprats and Gulls was witnessed, such data would assuredly lead to most interesting, useful, and scientific results.

One great difference in the migration of Gulls in 1884-5 from that of 1872-3 is that in 1884-5 there were very few Glaucous Gulls (_Larus glaucus_) or Iceland Gulls (_L. islandicus_), but in 1872-3 both these species were in vast numbers, comparatively speaking. It seems to me possible that the 1872-3 migration indicated by these Arctic Gulls was of even wider and more extensive influence than that of 1884-5. But of course there is room here for still further elucidation and collection of statistics.

Again, while the Tay usually is visited by sprats in great sprat seasons, equally, or nearly so, with the Forth, and was so visited in 1872-3 though not to the extent that the Forth was, in 1884-5 it appears to have been almost utterly deserted by fish and bird alike. The cause was, no doubt, comparative scarcity of entomostracan life, dependent, most likely, upon certain undefined conditions of sea-temperatures, affected, possibly, from the river-basin of Tay and its tributaries. If light can be thrown upon these not-difficult-to-ascertain data, in a few years, at most, much of our uncertainty as to causes and effects of migration of Entomostraca, Sea-fish, and even Salmon and migratory Salmonidæ will be removed.

_Temperatures of the Firth of Forth, June, 1884 to January, 1885._

Isle of May. Queensferry. Near Alloa.

June (1884) 51 53 58 July (52) 58 (60) August 54 (59) (65) September (53) 54 58 October 53 52 51 November 49 47 45 December 44 41 (38) January (1885) (43) 39 35 Range of surface } temperature } 10° 20° 30° of the water }

_Note._--The figures in brackets were not observed, but are entered hypothetically.

Mr. Milne, in writing to me, adds, "I believe that in hot summer days the temperature at Alloa would be 70° or more, and during severe winter weather would certainly be down to 32°. My belief is that in October and April the temperature is uniform all over the Firth, and from April till October it is higher at Alloa than at the Isle of May, the difference attaining a maximum between July and August. From October to April it is lower at Alloa than at the May, the difference attaining a maximum about the end of the year. The maximum difference between the two places will be about 10° or 12°, giving a rate of change of 0° 2′ per mile." Suspended matter taken in ten samples at Kincardine on Forth varied from 5 to 20 grains per gallon, averaging about 10 grains.

_Note._--It was at Kincardine on Forth, the narrowest part of the Firth, between Alloa and Borrowstoness, that the greatest quantities of sprats were taken.

I personally visited Kincardine several times both in 1872-3 and 1884-5, and witnessed the extraordinary congregation of Gulls and the myriads of sprats. In 1884-5 one smack anchored off the pier at Kincardine took 16 tons of garvies (or sprats) during one tide. There were, in all, some twenty smacks all lying anchored at this narrow part of the Firth, but all of these were not fishing with the small meshed nets; some for herrings only. Hundreds of tons were sold at from 14_s._ to, latterly, 8_s._ a ton, and were spread over the adjoining farm lands for manure. Hundreds of tons more were sold for making up a compost manure--being in themselves considered too rich in phosphates--to a firm in Alloa. Hundreds of tons more besprinkled the mud-flats at low tide, or hung by their gills in festoons along the tangle covered timbers of the piers. The water itself was alive with them, and every wave that broke on the lower piers left the piers covered with glittering garvies. A man with a minnow landing-net could have caught an indefinite number by sweeping each wave as it came in.

Mr. J. T. Cunninghame, of the Scottish Marine Zoological Station, Granton, in reply to inquiries, tells me that "his notes dating 28th Nov. show that Copepods were very numerous and varied in the Firth of Forth, as were also Molluscan larvæ." The temperatures of the water, as will be seen by Mr. Milne's notes in December and January, 1885, were lower than at any other time of the year being (38) and 35 near Alloa (and Kincardine) as compared with 41 and 39 at Queensferry, and 44 and 43 at Isle of May. By the 17th Nov., as is recorded in our Migration Report, garvies are reported as very abundant around the Isle of May, at which time the temperature at that point was 49° against 47° at Queensferry and 45° at Alloa. These shoals were accompanied by great numbers of Gulls at Isle of May.

As early as March, 1884, vast numbers of Gulls are reported to have been fishing off N. Unst in Shetland for many weeks together, such an assemblage never having been observed before by the oldest inhabitant.

I feel convinced that a steady and carefully recorded journal of bird movements will result in very extensive additions to our knowledge of the natural laws which govern them.

In conclusion, I may say that in the course of another year's work we hope to be able to produce some certain data regarding this matter of relative conditions of the temperatures of the Arctic Ocean in 1884-5, and the data already given above, from inquiries now being made by Mr. Alexander Buchan of the Scottish Meteorological Society; also the connections between such data and the migrations of Entomostraca and "whales food"; also to institute a comparison with similar or dissimilar conditions in other years.

* * * * *

Mr. William Evans, a most careful and excellent Field Naturalist, sends me records of the occurrence of high Arctic birds on the Firth of Forth in 1884. The Grey Plover, Knot, and Bar-tailed Godwit were seen on the 9th August (which, however, was the first day Mr. Evans visited the shore). The Sanderling was seen on the 14th August, and the Little Stint on the 20th.

* * * * *

Anticipatory of our 1885 Report, it may interest our readers here to learn that the spring migration of 1885 has developed still more extraordinary results, such as the migration of Pied Flycatchers dining the first week in May, past Pentland Skerries, Isle of May, and other stations; and the occurrence of such rarities as Ortolan Buntings, Red-backed Shrike, &c., at Isle of May about the same time. White Wagtails also have been commonly observed at land-stations. (_Vide_ R. Gray, Esq.)

WEST COAST OF ENGLAND AND WALES.

Schedules were sent to the forty-four lighthouses and light-vessels on the West Coast of England and Wales, and from twenty-five of them returns have been received.

The following is an enumeration of the stations, taken in order from north to south, those from which returns were furnished being marked with an asterisk:--

No. on Map.

*119. L.V. Bahama Bank John West. *120. L.H. St. Bees Henry Nott. *121. L.V. Selker D. Kneale and ---- Cumming. *122. L.V. Morecambe Bay Henry Clavell. *123. L.V. Dee S. Woek and J. Clague. 124. L.H. Air. 125. L.H. Menai. 126. L.H. Skerries. 127. L.H. Holyhead Breakwater. *128. L.H. South Stack William E. Burgess. *129. L.V. Carnarvon Bay Henry Hughes. *130. L.H. St. Tudwall's W. Monk. *131. L.H. Bardsey Island Thomas Bowen. 132. L.V. Cardigan Bay. *133. L.H. South Bishop A. Hills. *134. L.H. Smalls Richard Evans. 135. L.H. Great Castle Head. *136. L.H. Milford George Baker. *137. L.H. Caldy William Ebben. *138. L.V. Helwick Thomas Cornell. *139. L.V. Scarweather P. Frost. *140. L.H. Nash (E.) Henry Nicholas. 141. L.H. Breaksea. *142. L.H. Flatholm W. Dale. 143. L.V. English and Welsh Grounds. *144. L.H. Usk A. Russell. 145. L.H. Avon. 146. L.H. Burnham. *147. L.H. Bull Point George Knott. *148. L.H. Bideford Bar Thomas Gilpin. 149. L.H. Lundy. 150. L.H. Hartland Point. 151. L.H. Trevose Head. *152. L.H. Godrevy Richard Trahair. *153. L.H. Longships J. W. Watson and Wm. Davies. 154. L.V. Sevenstones. 155. L.H. Wolf Rock. 156. L.H. Scilly. *157. L.H. Bishop's Rock John W. Froth. 158. L.H. Lizard. 159. L.H. Falmouth Harbour. *160. L.H. Eddystone William Ainger. 161. L.H. Plymouth Breakwater. *162. L.H. Start Point William Jones.

The best thanks of the Committee are due to the above-named observers for their painstaking records and valued aid; and it is an added pleasure to acknowledge assistance received from several ornithologists, including Messrs. James Andrews, of Swanage, Dorsetshire; O. V. Aplin, of Banbury (notes from Barmouth District); W. Duckworth, of Carlisle; T. E. Kelsall, of Balliol College, Oxford; Rev. H. A. Macpherson, of Carlisle; and Mr. Arthur Patterson, of Preston. Special acknowledgment is due to the Rev. H. A. Macpherson for most hearty and welcome co-operation. The recorder trusts to enlist further aid from the naturalists of the West of England and Wales, as it will much enhance the value of the report to include in it observations made by trained and experienced ornithologists, from whom alone can be expected notes on critical and rare species.

In dealing with the mass of information received it has been thought best to treat of it under the following heads.

I.--A few General Remarks on the Report.

II.--Reports on the Migratory-Season of 1884, communicated by several of the light-keepers and others.

III.--A Diary of the Principal Migratory Movements, which gives an idea of the importance of each movement, the area covered by it, and also indicates the species migrating in company.

IV.--A separate Report on each species.

I.--General Remarks.

The great mass of migrants during the past autumn seem to have passed stations decidedly south of Anglesea. The great movements appear to have taken place between Oct. 21st and 24th (inclusive), during which period some dozen species were noted; and again between Nov. 10th and 14th (inclusive), this being the most important movement, and applied no less than eighteen species observed at the lighthouses and lightships alone.

The report embraces notes on some rare or interesting species, including _Motacilla alba_, _Lanius major_, _Ampelis garrulus_, _Chen albatus_, _Querquedula circia_, _Phalaropus hyberboreus_, _Machetes pugnax_, _Hydrochelidon nigra_; whilst the scarcity or entire absence of _Passer montanus_, _Corvus cornix_, and _Bernicla brenta_, and the presence of _Bernicla leucopsis_, are of interest to one accustomed to East Coast observations. The capture, too, of eight _Procellaria pelagica_ at the South Bishop, on Oct. 14th, is a noteworthy incident. The lanterns vary not a little in their death-dealing attractions, those of the Bardsey, South Bishop, Smalls, Nash (E.), Godrevy, and Eddystone lighthouses being most seductive, occasionally commanding no less than two hundred victims in a single night.

To be able to offer opinions, or even to speculate on the various problems connected with the migration of birds on the West Coast of England, will require much careful study based upon reports for some years, and it will be much regretted that this coast has been neglected for several seasons.

Chief attention should, perhaps, be paid to the relationship which exists between migration as observed on this coast and the great land mass of Ireland; thus to enable us, if possible, to give some indication of the lines of route, if any, taken by both summer and winter visitors and partial migrants on their passages to and from that country.

To this end a series of careful observations must and should be made, and special attention be given by observers to the direction taken by all migratory birds. This, it is thought, has not received the attention it deserves, and, as it may add a special value to the observations made, it is hoped that the light-keepers (especially those on light-vessels) and others, who have so very willingly helped in the past, will give attention to this request.

II.--Reports from Stations on the Season.

_Carlisle District_ (Messrs. Macpherson and Duckworth).--After a westerly hurricane on Jan. 26th, land birds (Jackdaw and Moorhen), as well as Guillemots, Puffins, Gulls, and Sheldrakes were washed ashore, while Mr. Cook found a large Skua; many Oystercatchers were observed far inland. February and March were dull; the usual fowl on the Loughs, including Pintail, Shovellers, Tufted Duck, and Barnacle Geese, were numerous during the first half of March, and a large flock were seen; as also a Goosander in mid-April. The general calm of the first week of April induced the van of our army of summer visitants to push on early; but the subsequent prevalence of easterly and north-easterly winds checked the main body. On the afternoon of April 29th the wind changed from east to west, and we had an immense influx of House Martins and other birds on the 30th. August was fine, and many Waders arrived early; but it appeared that the chief arrivals took place between the last week this month and the second week of September. Geese and Ducks arrived before the middle of October; and the heavy westerly winds on the 26th and 27th brought ashore the Pomatorhine Skua and Leach's Petrel. The weather continued chiefly open until the end of the year, but most Waders had left by the end of October. In November and December the Geese and Ducks alone relieved the monotony of the Solway.

_St. Bees_ L.H.--Mr. Henry Nott tells me that birds are generally few, unless Starlings and Lapwings; Starlings have been exceptionally numerous during the winter; as for Thrushes and Blackbirds he scarcely ever sees one.

_Morecambe Bay_ L.V.--Mr. Henry Clavell informs me that very few birds have passed this station during the past two years.

_Nash_ (E.) L.H. (Mr. Henry Nicholas).--Birds have not been noticed in such large flocks as last year. The most decided and general movement took place between the 2nd and 15th of November. Wild Ducks have been very scarce this year, and Sky Larks and Starlings have not been observed in such immense numbers as in years past.

_Start_ L.H.--Mr. William Jones notes that in very few instances birds are observed at his station.

III.--Diary of Principal Movements.

The order of the stations is from north to south. The wind and weather are given in parentheses. For the weather the symbols of the Beaufort Scale have been adopted;[35] and the force of the wind ranges from to 12.

[Footnote 35: _Beaufort Scale._--B = blue sky; C, detached clouds; D, drizzling rain; F, fog; G, dark, gloomy; H, hail; L, lightning; M, misty; O, overcast; P, passing showers; Q, squally; R, rain; S, snow; T, thunder; U, ugly, threatening; V, visibility, unusual transparency; W, dew.]

_September 14th._

_Dee_ L.V.--A Robin killed at 10.30 p.m. (E. by S., 5; B, C, M.)

_Scarweather_ L.V.--Two Swallows at 11 a.m.

Nash (E.) L.H.--Two Landrails and one Starling killed at 2.15 a.m. (E., moderate; misty.)

_Eddystone_ L.H.--Several Wheatears, "Flycatcher species" [Warblers], Wrens, and a few Larks, between 8 p.m. and midnight. Fifteen killed. (E., 5; O, R, M.)

_Start_ L.H.--A Ring Ouzel killed at midnight. (E.S.E., 4; C, G, V, P.)

_September 15th._

_St. Bees_ L.H.--Numbers of Goldcrests at lantern at 11.30 p.m. (E., light breeze; misty.)

_Dee_ L.V.--Titlark and Chaffinch found dead at daylight.

_South Stack_ L.H.--Several Starlings and Wheatears between 9 p.m. and midnight. Several struck. (E., 4; O, M, R.)

_September 16th._

_St. Bees_ L.H.--Great numbers of Goldcrests from midnight to daylight. (S.E., light breeze; gloomy.)

_September 17th._

_St. Bees_ L.H.--Large numbers of Fieldfares at 7 a.m. (S.S.E., light; B, C, M.)

_Bull Point_ L.H.--A Goldcrest at lantern at 1.30 am. (E., 1; bright.)

_September 29th._

_Longships_ L.H.--" A great host of Larks" at 4 am., "a lot striking." (Drizzling.)

_October 14th._

_South Bishop_ L.H.--"Many Song Thrushes, Missel Thrushes, Blackbirds, Wheatears, Goldcrests, Linnets, Larks, and eight Storm Petrels, from 11 p.m. to daylight." Ninety killed by striking the glass, and two hundred taken in a net attached to a stick. Three "Falcon Hawks and a Large-horned Owl" were also present, "and made sad havoc with them." (S.E. breeze; mist and slight rain.)

_Helwick_ L.H.--A Lark at lantern at 9 p.m.

_Eddystone_ L.H.--Four Goldcrests and a few common Wrens struck at midnight. Six killed. (N., 2; C, V.)

_October 18th._

_Bahama Bank_ L.V.--A flock of Crows at 3 p.m., flying S.W.

_Dee_ L.V.--Several flocks of Titlarks at 7.15 a.m. (W., 3; O, D, V.)

_South Stack_ L.H.--Finches, Linnets and Starlings between 7 and 10 a.m. (N.W., 3; clear.)

_Carnarvon Bay_ L.V.--Hundreds of Larks all day, and a large number all night. (N.N.W., 4.)

_Bull Point_ L.H.--Large flock of Starlings and forty Linnets at 7 a.m. (W., 2; clear.)

_October 19th._

_Bardsey_ L.H.--One Woodcock killed during night. (S., 5; C, M, D.)

_Helwick_ L.H.--One Lark at 9 p.m.

_Bishop Rock_ L.H.--A good number of Thrushes, Blackbirds, and Larks, from 11 p.m. to daylight. (N.N.W. to N.N.E.; misty.)

_October 21st._

_Selker_ L.V.--Several Larks and Starlings at lantern throughout the night, all went E. at daylight (S.S.W., 3; O, M, R.)

_Morecambe Bay_ L.V.--Several Larks and Bullfinches from 10 to 12 a.m., flying S.W.

_Dee_ L.V.--Large numbers of Starlings and Titlarks and a few Thrushes during the early morning, many striking glass. (Very foggy.)

_South Stack_ L.H.--Blackbirds, Thrushes, Starlings, and Larks, between 12 p.m. and 4 a.m. A few killed. (S.S.W., 4; mist and rain.)

_Carnarvon Bay_ L.V.--One Starling killed at 11 p.m. Two Thrushes at 4 a.m.

_St. Tudwall's_ L.H.--A Chaffinch killed at 11 p.m., and two Blackbirds at 3 a.m.

_Bardsey_ L.H.--One hundred Starlings and "a goodly lot of Black and Grey Thrushes" in the morning. "Dozens" killed. (S.W., 3; C, P, D.)

_Caldy_ L.H.--Three Starlings at 11 p.m.

_Bull Point_ L.H.--One Starling at 5 a.m. (S.E.; clear.)

_Godrevy_ L.H.--Great numbers of Redwings and Thrushes, and a few Starlings, Blackbirds, and Goldcrests, from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. Thirty-two killed. (S.S.E., 2; C, M.)

_Eddystone_ L.H.--Large numbers of Thrushes, Redwings, Blackbirds, Finches, Larks, and Starlings, from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m. About two hundred caught. (From E.N.E. to E.S.E.; O, M.)

_Start_ L.H.--Three or four Starlings and a Thrush at lantern at 9 p.m. (E.S.E., 4; C, G, V.)

_October 22nd._

_Bahama Bank_ L.V.--Larks at the lantern all night.

_Selker_ L.V.--Larks about lantern all night. (S.S.E., 5; cloudy and misty.)

_River Dee_ L.V.--A Thrush killed at 7 p.m.

_South Stack_ L.H.--Blackbirds, Finches, and Starlings, at 8 p.m. (S.W., 4; misty and showery.) About sixty Blackbirds, Thrushes, and Starlings, from 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. (S., 6; misty.)

_Carnarvon Bay_ L.V.--Many birds at lantern from 6 p.m. Starlings and Thrushes killed. (S.S.E., 5; misty.)

_Bardsey_ L.H.--A good lot of "Black and Grey Thrushes" at night. Scores killed. (S., 5; C, G, M.)

_Smalls_ L.H.--Blackbirds and Thrushes from midnight to 4 a.m. (23rd). One hundred struck, fifty killed. (S.E., 4; O, M, R.)

_Caldy_ L.H.--One Thrush, two Blackbirds, two Larks, and one Starling, at lantern between 8 p.m. and 2.30 a.m. (23rd). (S.S.E., 5; O, G, M.)

_Bull Point_ L.H.--A female Blackbird killed at 4 a.m. (23rd). (S.E., 2; misty.)

_Godrevy_ L.H.--One Blackbird, four Larks, and four Starlings, killed at 4 a.m. (23rd). (S.W., 3; C, M.).

_Longships_ L.H.--Thrushes, Goldcrests, Wrens, and Starlings, all night. Several killed. (S.S.E., 3; misty.)

_October 23rd._

_Bahama Bank_ L.V.--Larks, Starlings, and Blackbirds, at the lantern all night.

_Selker_ L.V.--From 1.30 a.m. (24th) to daylight many Blackbirds, Larks, and Starlings at lantern; at daylight they all went East. (S.S.E., 4; misty.)

_Dee_ L.V.--Four Thrushes, males and females, and a female Blackbird, killed between 6 and 8 p.m.; and nine Thrushes, males and females, and eight Blackbirds, males and females, between midnight and 6 a.m. (S.S.E., 4; fog.)

_South Stack_ L.H.--A flock of Crows passing to S. at 10 a.m.

_Carnarvon Bay_ L.V.--Large flocks of Crows at 8 a.m., also a great many small birds, passing S. during the day. (S., 4; M.)

_Milford_ L.H.--Linnets, Larks, and Starlings, passed. (S., 4; M.) The same on the 24th.

_Scarweather_ L.V.--Flocks of Larks and Starlings at intervals, from 2 a.m. to 12 a.m. (S.E., 4; misty.) The same on 24th.

_Longships_ L.H.--Thrush, Goldcrests, Wrens, and Starlings, all night. (S., 3; misty.)

_October 24th._

_South Stack_ L.H.--Several Blackbirds, Larks, and Starlings, killed between 8 and 10 p.m. (N.N.E., 2; misty.)