THE BIRDS OF HELIGOLAND 415 



in March of the following year I find, under date of the 12th, from 

 ten to fifteen examples noted in my journal. Nowadays, however, 

 the bird has become of so rare occurrence, that only some fifteen 

 examples have been seen here during the last twenty-five years. 



This species is distributed from the Arctic Circle southwards 

 over the whole of temperate Europe and Asia; inhabits the coniferous 

 forests of Scandinavia; and is found to breed — but sparingly, it is true, 

 — in Sleswick-Holstein and England. Its quite exceptional occur- 

 rence in Heligoland can, however, hardly be assumed to bo due to 

 its adhering to a specially rigid north-to-south line of migration ; 

 nor can it be the result of the absence of coniferous trees of any 

 kind on this island, for there were no such trees here in former 

 years, when this bird occurred more frequently. 



215.— Blue Titmouse [Blaumeise]. 



PARUS CCERULEUS, Linn. 



Heligolandish : Blii BolIows = BZ!(e Titmouse. 



Pams cmndetis. Nauniann, iv. 62. 



Blue Titmouse. Dresser, iii. 131. 



Mesange blene. Temmiiick, Manuel, i. 2S9, iii. 209. 



It is indeed a source of great enjoyment to see a Hock of these 

 birds in the course of their regular rovings, busily occupied in 

 scrutinising the modest trees of a HeUgolandish garden ; a species 

 of willow (Salix smithiana), and a maple (Acer pseuclo-platanus), 

 receive the bird's special attention. In activity and garrulity the 

 Blue Titmouse considerably surpasses the preceding species. Not a 

 moment's rest is found to prevail in a company of from twenty to 

 thirty of these birds ; for not only do all the different members of 

 the band move onward in one direction in the merriest confusion, 

 but each individual bird keeps all the parts of its body in constant 

 motion. They are continually twisting and turning their heads, or 

 moving their wings, or fluttering and hopping through the branches. 

 For the most part, however— and this is the most pleasing sight 

 of all — they hang with their backs downwards from the thinnest 

 tips of the willow branches, examining the leaves and find- 

 ing something to pick everywhere, while all the time they are 

 giving utterance to their cheerful and silvery-toned call-notes. 

 Thus they pass from one garden to another, until they have made 

 the round of the island, which completed, one has the pleasure of 

 receiving their visits a second time. 



Sometimes these Titmice, like the preceding species, resume 

 their journey as early as noon : often they may still be seen, during 



