104 THE BIRDS OF HELIGOLAND 



days during the autumn migration in such vast quantities that it 

 deserves to be considered next. In this instance, again, the young 

 birds, from about six to eight weeks old, are the first to migrate 

 about the middle of July. In the year 1880 the advance-guard 

 of these immigrants arrived here on the 24th of July ; in 1881 on 

 the 19th; but in 1882 as early as the night between the 7th and 

 8th of the same month. In 1883 very violent west winds with 

 rain prevailed throughout the whole of July and during the first 

 week of August, and accordingly not a single bird, either of this or 

 any other species, was seen. During the night between the 6th and 

 7 th of August the wind changed to a light south-east. This was 

 followed forthwith by the appearance of numerous species, includ- 

 ing Wheatears, all, however, only in small numbers ; this paucity 

 was accounted for by the subsequent change of the wind to the 

 west, from which direction it continued to blow, amid many down- 

 pours of rain, until the 13th. From the 14th to the 23rd light 

 southerly, south-easterly, and easterly winds prevailed, the weather 

 being fine and warm. During the whole of this time young 

 AVheatears, and other species due at this particular period, migrated 

 in great quantities. 



The regular migration of the young Wheatears does not, how- 

 ever, begin until the last week in July, and from that time onwards 

 thousands of these birds arrive here daily. Such, among other 

 instances, was the case in 1880 on the 24th of July, and on the 

 4th, 5th, 6th, 11th, 12th, etc., of August. This regular migration 

 of young birds continues until the middle of September or even 

 somewhat later, after Avhicli time it gradually decreases until its 

 close. 



The older birds of this species are seen in much smaller num- 

 bers during the autumn migration: probably the majority of them 

 fly across the island during the night without breaking their 

 journey. Their proper migration time is October, but scattered 

 examples in the blue-grey plumage make their appearance as early 

 as September ; thus, among forty-five birds of this species, caught 

 at the lighthouse lantern on the night of the 1st September 1881, 

 seven were old birds ; and among forty-six, on the night of the 4th, 

 thirteen were old individuals, all the rest, in both cases, consisting 

 of young birds of the year. In 1880 the first old bird was seen on 

 the 10th of October, and in 1882, on the 4th of the same month. 



The migrations of the Pied Flycatcher, the Redstart, the Willow 

 Warbler, the Whinchat, the Ortolan Bunting, and many other 

 species proceed in exactly the same manner — in fact, the data 

 given above for the Wheatear will apply with almost equal force 

 for aU these species, except that the Willow Warbler is the first 



