292 THE BIRDS OF HELIGOLAND 



the relations of the tliwht-feathers to each other, a relation of 

 great specific import in so many of the Warbler species. In 

 8. superciliosa the second of these feathers is of the same length 

 as the seventh ; in H. humci, on the other hand, the second is equal 

 to the ninth ; in the latter species, the sixth flight-feather still 

 forms part of the tip of the wing, while in the former the same 

 feather does not nearly reach the tip. 



As it is hardly likely that another ornithologist will ever be 

 placed in a position to record such results of an observation of this 

 interesting species, carried out on European soil, as were possible 

 to me on this island, I do not think it will be considered super- 

 fluous if I give in their proper order the dates of their occurrences 

 from my ornithological diary : — 



1846. 4th October. — Male. First example shot by a boy with a blow- 



pipe. 



1847. 9th November. — Seen, but not killed. In September of the same 



year an example was shot near Milan. 



1848. Sth October. — Female. 10th November.— Not obtained. 



1849. 25tb April. — Beautiful male. 20th and 25th September. 



1850. 1st October. — One bird. 6th. — Obtained two females. 13th and 



17th. — One bird each day. 



1853. 12th and 17th October. — The example obtained on the latter 



date was a male. 



1854. 28tli and 30th September; 6th October. — A young bird. 



1857. 20th September. — A bird in my garden. 



1858. 22nd September. — Wounded a bird, but did not secure it. 12th 



October. — One bird. 



1859. 7th October. — Two birds in garden, one of which shot. 

 „ 8th „ A fine male, with broad stripe on crown. 



„ 13th „ Obtained two birds, one of them a fine old male. 



1861. 10th „ Three examples in Jacob Dahn's willows. 



1863. 9th „ Shot a male. 



1864. 4th „ Two examples; stuffed one young bird. 



1865. 24th ,, Obtained two e.xamples, females. 



1867. 19th September. — Shot two. 11th October. — One bird ; on the 

 same day an example was shot in England. 



1869. 1st October. — Saw one bird but did not obtain it. 



1870. 19th September. — Two in garden; gun wouldn't act. 20th. — 



One male presented to Newton. 

 1871-72. The diaries for these years are lost. 



1873. 24th September. — Two. 25th.— Obtained one male. 26th. — 



Two, not obtained. 30th. — One male. 16th October. — 

 Saw one liird, but did not obtain it. 



1874. 10th and 1 1th October. — Saw one example each day respectively. 



1875. 17th September. — Two examples, not obtained. 



1876. 25th May. — A bird in garden. 2Gth, 29th, and 30th September. 



— A bird on each day respectively. 3rd October. — A bird 

 on each day respectively. 4th October. — Female in garden ; 



