132 THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
quency of its appearance at the light-vessels. The chief part of
this bird's movements off the Essex coast are performed from
about the middle of September, are at their maximum in October,
and are continued into March. It is possible that they may
have occurred in every month of the year as May and June
are the only months in which they have not been recorded.
In 1879 Skylarks passed the Nore on forty-four days from
August 4th to December 6th and 7th; on the latter dates
they migrated by hundreds all day, often mixed with Starlings,
Linnets and Sparrows. In 1880 they were observed at the
Galloper from October 9th to November 11th on seventeen days
in large flocks up to five hundred in a flock; on October 31st,
at 11 p.m. with half a gale, thirty were killed. In 1886, at the
Kentish Knock, on January 22nd and 23rd thousands passed
from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m., and again on February 30th thousands
were seen, the flocks being likened to clouds. Dr. Eagle Clarke
relates that during his stay on the Kentish Knock in September
and October, 1903, this species was more in evidence than any
other, its movements being of a varied nature. It was the most
frequent visitor to the light. The only other migrations which
approach those of the Skylark are the movements of that
remarkable bird, the Starling. The migrations of the Skylark
and Starling are very similar; in fact, a feature of the reports
is the close association of the two species. The Chaffinch,
although the extent of its flights are small compared with those
of the Starling, takes third place.
We have full details of movements for four complete years,
1909-1912 inclusive, and nine species have been sufficiently
recorded in this period to permit of consideration.