THE BIRDS OF HELIGOLAND 397 



197. — Siskin [Erlenzeisig]. 



FKINGILLA SPINUS, Linn.i 

 Heligolandish : Zieak = Siskin. 

 Fringilla spinus. Naumann, v. 173. 

 Siskin. Dresser, iii. 541. 



Grns-hec tarin. Temminck, Manuel, i. 371, iii. 264. 



In some years this little bird is met with here during the 

 fiutumn migration in quite incredible abundance, whereas in most 

 years it belongs to those of the Finch species which are represented 

 here in only inconsiderable numbers ; during the spring migration, 

 especially, only solitary examples are met with. 



The autunm migration takes place from the middle of Septem- 

 ber until about the end of October, the birds appearing almost 

 annually in smaller or larger flights, but sometimes in astonishing 

 numbers, as in the autumn of 1S80, when their numbers were such 

 as no one ever remembers to have seen here before. My journal on 

 this occasion states as follows : — September 16, wind S.E., quite 

 calm, sumiy, warm — F. spinus early, in flights numbering up to 

 fifty. In the afternoon, hundreds in the garden, feeding on lettuce 

 which had gone to seed ; all young birds ; on the I7th, hundreds of 

 of thousands ; flocks hke clouds ; the whole island covered with 

 them. 



During this imprecedented migration, an excellent opportunity 

 presented itself to me for finally dispelling a notion which had 

 become current for some years, though it was scarcely to be 

 taken seriously — viz. that small birds are, during their migration- 

 flights, carried by the larger ones on their backs to their 

 places of destination. Summer visitors to the island had often 

 asked my opinion on this question ; and during this particular 

 September a gentleman of scientific acquirements frequently 

 started the subject. He himself was so thoroughly convinced 

 of the truth of this belief, that anything I said to the contrary 

 failed to make the least impression on him. Then came the 

 17 th of September above mentioned, — a day to him pregnafnt 

 with disaster. He came to me to express his astonishment 

 at the enormous quantities of small birds which filled the whole 

 island, for, besides the Siskins, a very strong migration of 

 numerous Sylvife, Chats, Tree Pipits, Ortolan Buntings, and the 

 like, had taken place. He could not find words to exjaress his 

 astonishment at the incomprehensible number of these small 



^ Chri/somitris spinus {L,inn.). 



