130
THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
October. The movements in December were almost insignifi-
cant.
Although much attention is devoted to the natural history
of the county it is probable that few of us ever think of the
remarkable flights of birds, which are occurring, particularly in
autumn, off the Essex coast, although not within our view.
The reports convey to us an idea of what has been witnessed.
The report from the Galloper L.V. for 1882 states: "that on the
night of 6th October Larks, Starlings, Mountain Sparrows,
Titmice, Common Wrens, Redbreasts, Chaffinches and Plover
were picked up on the deck, and that it is calculated five to six
hundred struck the rigging and fell overboard; a large pro-
portion of these were Larks. Thousands of birds were flying
round the lantern from 11.30 p.m. to 4.45 a.m., their white
breasts, as they dashed to and fro in the circle of light, having
the appearance of a heavy fall of snow. This was repeated on
the 8th and 12th, and on the night of the 13th 160 were picked
up on deck, including Larks, Starlings, Thrushes and two
Redbreasts; it was thought one thousand struck and went
overboard into the sea." It is explained that it was only on
dark rainy nights, snow or fog, that these casualties occur; when
the nights were light, or any stars visible the birds appeared to
give the lantern a wide berth. In another report from the
Galloper L.V. we read: "From January 21st to April 12th,
1886, is specially interesting as recording the enormous migration
of Larks and Starlings, and in less numbers of Chaffinches,
Sparrows, Linnets and Plover. On the nights of January 21 to
23, two hundred and twenty-six were killed." It is added that
the observers failed to state the direction of flight, but judging
from the entries in the schedules sent in by other light-vessels
on the south-east coast, they refer to birds on passage both to
the Continent and our own shores. Another L.V., the Swin
Middle reports in 1886: "From January 21st to February 15th
immense flights of Larks, generally during the night, and large
numbers killed, also Starlings, Sparrows and some Chaffinches.
On January 24th five flocks of small birds travelling from N.W.
to S.E. On the night of February 14th to 15th, Larks still in
great numbers, ninety on deck and a great many falling into
the water, 'for two hours the Larks were like a shower of snow.'
March 28th and 29th and April 1st, 2nd and 3rd, Chaffinches at