THE BIRDS OF HELIGOLAND 325 



out the whole of Asia. As on« might expect, it is also a very 

 numerous visitor to Heligoland, the island being often, especially 

 durmg the connnencenient of the autunm migration, covered with 

 young birds. The migration of these young birds usually commences 

 at the end of July, and lasts to the middle of September — in fiivour- 

 able weather the earliest arrivals frequentty make their appearance 

 even much sooner ; thus in 1882 young Wheatears were seen fairly 

 numerously on the night of the 7 th and Stli of July at the light- 

 house. Among these early arrivals mdividuals with the light- 

 bordered early plumage in still almost perfect condition are 

 frequently found. The number of old birds is however very 

 Umited durmg the autuum migi-ation ; with rare exceptions they 

 are not seen before the beginning of October, and their migration 

 lasts until about the end of November ; the birds, especially the 

 later arrivals, being invariably most surprisingly fat. 



The old males which initiate the spring migration pass through 

 Heligoland fi-om the middle of March to the middle of April ; in 

 favourable weather they also appear earher, — thus in 1881 as early 

 as the 8th, 9th and 10th of the former month. They are followed 

 by the females and 3'Ounger bhds during the latter half of April 

 and through May. At odd times a pair have attempted to breed 

 on the island, but they have probably hardly ever aicceeded in 

 rearing their 3"oung. 



These lively birds have a special preference for the rock debris 

 at the foot of the chffi It is amusing to watch the thousands of 

 these birds there, chasing about after each other, or actively pursuing 

 aquatic insects and the like ; all of a sudden one of their number 

 utters a warning cry, annoimcing the approach of a span-ow-hawk, 

 which he has espied in the distance, — in a trice the whole band 

 has disappeared as though it had sunk mto the earth, all the 

 birds having gone into hiding under the stones. A scene of the 

 most animated bustle is changed, as though by a wizard's wand, 

 iato deathly stillness. However, the pause is not of long duration ; 

 one by one the tiny creatures may be seen emerging cautiously 

 from their hiding-places, and soon the same" frolicsome movement 

 reigns agam on all sides, perhaps before very long to be once more 

 interrupted in the same manner as before, Hke sunshine alternating 

 with cloud on a bright day in summer. 



In autumn these birds are caught here for the table of the 

 visitors who come for the sea-bathing. Formerly they were caught 

 almost exclusively by some of the old pilots or fishermen, who felt 

 themselves no longer equal to following their former calling on 

 the mighty ocean : later on, however, when boys, still subject to 

 school attendance, began to evince a neater likinsr for catchinsr 



