18 THE BIRDS OF HELIGOLAND 



examples of the Merlin are often seen, but of old Peregrines solitary 

 examples only are met with. The Short-eared Owl gradually dis- 

 appears. Of the Long-eared Owl also only solitary specimens remain, 

 while the small pretty Tengmalm's Owl is now only met with as a 

 rare occurrence. 



With the arrival of the northern strangers the sea begins to 

 present a picture of strikingly active and varied bird-life. The 

 numbers of the Kittiwake are beyond all computation. At all times, 

 and in aU directions, both old and young bii'ds of the Common Gull, 

 the Herring Gull, and the Greater Black-backed Gull may be seen 

 roving or soaring over the sea. On stormy days that lovely bird, 

 the Little Gull, collects in great multitudes under the lee-side of 

 the island, but at once vanishes if the weather improves. The two 

 handsome species of Skua — the Pomatorhine Skua and Richardson's 

 Skua — appear annually in the course of December, the greater 

 number of them consisting of young autumn birds. Isolated 

 examples of the smaller species — Butibn's Skua — are also met with 

 at this season. Among the peculiar family of the Petrels, isolated 

 examples only of the Fulmar Petrel are for the most part met with, 

 though the bird is frequently seen in large numbers at other times. 

 The Fork-tailed Petrel is onlj^ of rare occurrence. That smallest of 

 all the swimming-birds — the pretty Storm Petrel — is seen annually, 

 and shot with increasing frequency ; the same is the case with 

 the Grey Phalarope. The Great Northern Divers and the Black- 

 throated Divers are only among the very rare occurrences. The 

 Red-throated Diver, on the contrary, is met with daily at greater 

 or less distances from the island, and is very frequently shot. In 

 a few isolated instances this bird has been observed migrating in 

 hundreds of thousands. Before concluding, mention must be 

 made of the small and trim Little Auk, solitary examples of 

 which are shot pretty nearly everj' year durmg the latter half of 

 November. It is only in exceptional instances that this bird has 

 been met with more numerously ; all the examples being, in such 

 cases, in a very emaciated condition. 



Decembek.- — During no month of the year is the influence of 

 the prevailing weather on the migration of birds more strikingly 

 felt than in the course of December. Should the temperature 

 remain mild, Starlings, Blackbirds, Fieldfai'cs, and Redwings, as 

 well as Snipe and Woodcock, continue to migrate up to the close 

 of the year ; thus, in the year 1873, Thrushes and Snipe were 

 daily met with on Heligoland, though in small numbers; 

 while, according to a report in the Field, exceptionally large 

 quantities of Snipe were exposed for sale in the London markets 

 throughout the whole of December of the same year — a fact which 



