588 THE BIRDS OF HELIGOLAND 



This species is very widely distributed ; its breeding range 

 extends from northern Scandinavia to southern Africa, and from 

 eastern Asia to the south of Australia. 



With this my report on the Birds of Heligoland closes. It is 

 not without a certam feeling of sadness that I take my leave of 

 those dear companions of many j'ears, Avhose voices, manifold and 

 familiar, have come down to me like friendly greetings from the 

 heights above during many a late hour of night spent at my 

 desk over these leaves, whilst over the skylight of the room which 

 serves me at once for museum and for studio their countless hosts 

 were speeding onward towards their distant homes. 



May these records be a welcome gift to all my fellow-workers 

 in the same field of Natural History ! With this aspu-ation I lay 

 down my pen on this, the 19th day of May 1890, my seventy- 

 seventh birthday. 



THE EXD 



