6 THE BIEDS OF HELIGOLAND 



Woodlark begin to arrive, and the vanguard of the Shorelark 

 appears on the scene. Large swarms of Snow Buntings make 

 their appearance, and depart again after a brief and restless stay ; 

 while Yellowhammers and Common Buntings, in scattered com- 

 panies, have been noticed to make a longer sojourn. The Rooks 

 now begin their migrations, soon to be joined by small companies 

 of Hooded Crows, which are, somewhat later, followed by flights of 

 Jackdaws. The first named of these birds are fond of delaying 

 their journey for a time on the fields of the upper plateau, which 

 are sown with oats or barley ; the Rooks, on the other hand, 

 invariably pass across the island without interrupting their journey. 

 The Hooded Crow, conscious of the possession of a vocal muscular 

 apparatus, seems to regard herself as commissioned to announce 

 to the natives of Heligoland the approach of spring, making at the 

 latter season of the year a most extensive use of the gift with 

 which Nature has endowed her; while in autumn, on the other 

 hand, she invariably passes on her way in silence. 



Snipe and Blackbirds are met with more or less frequently, 

 according to the prevailing weather, from the beginning of the 

 month. Fieldfares are still observed in great flocks ; Redbreasts 

 being also pretty frequent. That most confiding little bird, the 

 Hedge Sparrow, quietly and busily disports itself in our gardens ; 

 the cheerful ' Bink, bink ' of the male Chalfinch resounds on all 

 sides; while isolated examples of the elegantly coloured black 

 males of the Black Redstart, as well as the first males of the 

 Common Wheatear, are now for the first time to be met with. 



Later in the month the Fire-crested Wren appears in limited 

 numbers ; the Chift'chafF may be seen in every shrub, and the 

 White Wagtail is found in company with the Pied Wagtail. The 

 Rock Pipits, which, about the beginning of the month, appear in 

 increasing numbers along the sea-shore, display in greater frequency 

 the transitional stages towards their summer plumage, and at the 

 same time the grassy plains of the island become more and more alive 

 with the Meadow Pipit. The Reed Bunting makes his appearance, 

 and the Shorelark, previously so rare, now passes in great flocks. 



By degrees the Song Thrush is found associated in increasing 

 numbers with the Blackbird, and the A\'oodcock is at the height 

 of its migration — ' Latare.' ^ The Ringdove is seen in greater and 



' [In Prussia the passage of the Woodcock occurs in spring, and tlie third Sunday 

 In Lent is called Woodcock Sunday ; hence the rhyme of the foresters — 



Oknii — da kommtn aic .... tr. (they arrive). 



Latare — isl das Wahre . . . . ,, (are truly there). 



Judika — auch noch da . . . . ,, (are still present). 



Pahnarum — rarum . . . . . ,, (ai'e rare). 

 Ocnli is the third Sunday in Lent, from the Introit, taken from Psalm xxv. 14; 



