84 THE BIRDS OF HELIGOLAND 



point. On the 15th, the wind changed to a very light south-west, 

 and was followed by a thaw, which lasted over the 16th. During 

 the intervening night, a migration on an enormous scale took place, 

 such as I had never experienced before, nor have ever witnessed 

 since. The air was literally filled with hundreds of thousands of 

 Curlews, Golden Plovers, Lajjwings, Snipe, Oyster-catchers, Sand- 

 pipers, and vast quantities of Geese. It is impossible to describe 

 the babel of voices, resounding through the black darkness of 

 night, from near and far. Prominentlj- among these, the loud wild 

 call of the Common Curlew, rinsjino- throuarh the darkness in a 



' CD O O 



thousand varying tones, lent to the whole scene a weird, almost 

 awe-inspiring character. 



The whole phenomenon, combined with the sudden arrival of 

 mild, calm weather, could apparently allow of only one conclusion, 

 viz., that the winter was at an end, that the spring migration had 

 commenced with rare and unusual vigour, and that the birds in 

 joyful throngs were hastening to tlieir summer homes. 



All this, however, proved a dehision ; a glance at the travelling 

 flocks at once revealed to one's great astonishment that they were 

 flying in a direction from east to west, — in other words, that they 

 Avere turning their backs ujjon their nesting stations. I must 

 confess that for a moment I felt completely taken aback at this 

 discovery ; for I repeat, that a migration in such extraordinary num- 

 bers, taken in connection with the advent of mild weather in the 

 middle of March, allowed of but one conclusion, viz. that the following 

 days woidd be warm, and accompanied by light south-cast winds. 



This powerful migration began after midnight, and lasted until 

 the morning, though it was prolonged by large nimibers of Lapwings 

 throughout the whole of the following forenoon, while several Snipe 

 and Blackbirds, which had arrived early in the morning, resumed 

 their journey without delay. 



The few Lapwings that alighted ran about in a sorrj- state, 

 looking half-frozen and stai-ved. The next few days brought a 

 solution of the mystery. Winter had returned, bringing with it a 

 stormy north-easter, frost and snow ; and east winds continued to 

 prevail up to the 28th, at times developing into storms, and accom- 

 panied by snow and frost. On the 29th and succeeding daj's, the 

 wind changed to south, the sky was overcast, the air mild, with 

 some light rain. The spring migration now commenced in full 

 earnest. Throughout the whole day till late in the afternoon, great 

 flocks of Hooded Crows winged their way high overhead, and with 

 much noise, across the island. During the night of the 30th, 

 ' millions,' as m}' journal has it, of Plovers of all kinds, as well as 

 Curlews, Dunlins, and like species, travelled past. On the follow- 



