ESSEX BIRD-MIGRATION. 129
of sea. There are situated at various distances from the Essex
shore the following eight light-stations from which evidence has
been accepted :—
Languard L.H. A mile E. of Harwich.
Longsand L.V. Fifteen miles E.S.E. of the Naze.
Galloper L.V. Twenty-six miles E.S.E. of the Naze.
Kentish Knock L.V. Twenty-seven miles E. of Holliwell
Point.
Swin Middle L.V. Six miles E. of Holliwell Point.
Mouse L.V. Seven miles E. of Shoeburyness.
Tongue L.V. Twenty-three miles E. of Shoeburyness.
Nore L.V. Four miles S.E. of Shoeburyness.
As a result of the two independent investigations which I have
already mentioned evidence has been obtained of migrations of
a very extraordinary nature. These may be described as moving
between north and south, and east and west. It is doubtful if
the former has much influence on the bird-life of Essex. Ninety-
six forms were recorded from the Essex lights, but there are about
twenty-eight, supported by evidence, which cannot be said with
certainty to have indicated migration. A consideration of the
list of birds, which have been shown to have been on migration,
brings to notice the remarkable fact that the following seventeen
species are resident as species in the county:—
Rook Linnet Meadow-Pipit Song-Thrush
Jackdaw Chaffinch Pied Wagtail Blackbird
Starling Tree-Sparrow Great Tit Robin
Greenfinch Skylark Mistle-Thrush Wren
Lapwing
The usefulness of the form of the report for 1887 now manifests
itself, for by its aid we may trace the fluctuations of those
remarkable flights of birds from month to month. In each of
the first three months of the year there was an appreciable
amount of migration, but there was less in February than in
January or March. April shows a marked falling-off as compared
with the preceding month, and there was still less activity in
May. Nothing was reported from the Essex lights in June, and
there was practically nothing in July and August. A big
increase occurred in September and a still bigger one in October,
this being the peak month. A marked slump occurred in
November, but in spite of this the month was second only to