M. H. Gatke on the occurrence of American Birds in Europe. 129 



months it is staying principally in Egypt. On its spring migration, 

 which takes place during the earlier half of May, the first place 

 north of Egypt where it is to be found with certainty in pretty con- 

 siderable numbers is Heligoland. Nowhere in the whole intermediate 

 distance is it met with but as a great rarity — not even on the neigh- 

 bouring north coast of Germany ; whilst here in Heligoland 1 have 

 oftentimes obtained it in such numbers that more than twenty of the 

 finest adult male birds have been bought by me in one day, and per- 

 haps the same number by the bird-stuffers of the island. The fore- 

 going admits of one conclusion only : namely, that this little bird per- 

 forms the passage from Egypt to Heligoland in one uninterrupted 

 flight, travelling — as many of the other small Insectivorce do — 

 during the night, starting towards sunset and arriving here about sun- 

 rise, or a little later, the time occupied being from twelve to fourteen 

 hours. The distance from Egypt to Heligoland being about 400 

 geographical miles less than that between Newfoundland and Ireland, 

 the rate of flight of this delicate little bird may be put down the same 

 as that of the above-mentioned Carrier- Pigeon, and consequently 

 furnishes a further proof that a healthy well-flying bird is able to 

 cross from the nearest point of America to Ireland without rest or 

 any extraordinary support whatever. 



In the foregoing I alluded to the ability of non-natatorial birds to 

 rest, in case of exhaustion, on the sea, and of rising from it after 

 having recovered sufficient strength to resume their flight ; and that, 

 too, at times when the water is far from being unruffled. This state- 

 ment is based on the following observations. One day, when out in a 

 boat shooting, about two or three miles from Heligoland, I observed 

 a very small bird swimming on the water. Neither the boatman nor 

 myself being able to discern what species it belonged to, we became 

 very eager to secure the stranger — conjecturing that it would turn 

 out to be some wonderful rarity. When preparing to fire, I fortu- 

 nately discovered that the expected prize was nothing but a Song- 

 thrush ! Immediately our desire to kill was changed into compassion : 

 the "poor Thrush" in so piteous a situation was to be "saved" 

 But how great was our astonishment when, upon the approach of the 

 boat, the bird, without any apparent difficulty, rose from the water 

 and flew towards Heligoland in first-rate style ! Another time we saw 

 a Snow-Bunting, evidently exhausted very much, because it was float- 

 ing scarcely 500 yards from the island. At the approach of my 

 boat, this bird also very lightly rose from the water, but it was so 

 weak that it had to resume its unnatural resting-place after proceed- 

 ing about thirty or forty yards towards the rocks. We went after 

 it again, and for a third time, but with the same result, whereupon 

 we refrained from all further attempts at forcing our well-intended 

 assistance upon so obstinate a fellow — the more so, as we entertained 

 no doubt that after a little rest he would obtain a more solid foot- 

 ing without any help of ours. 



I will give one more instance of this propensity in birds — in all 

 my experience the most striking : this time it was a Mountain- Finch 

 which had been compelled to alight for rest on the water of the sea ; 



Ann. ty Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 3. Vol. vi. 9 



