60 Prof. Blasius on the Ornithology of Heligoland. 



private as well as in literary or in public life. V. Homeyer pro- 

 claims his distrust only in the vaguest and most unsatisfactory 

 manner — merely as a supposition, as a possibility or probability, 

 without taking the slightest trouble to cite one single incontest- 

 able fact founded on his own observation and knowledge. In 

 reading his article one sees that he is not personally acquainted 

 with Heligoland. He concludes : " It would be most interesting 

 to science that the ornithology of Heligoland should remain no 

 longer closed to ornithologists.^' Hitherto then we have 

 been in the dark 1 and therefore it must be difficult to pro- 

 nounce a priori either in a positive or negative sense on the 

 question. 



But how is the ornithology of Heligoland to be disclosed to 

 ornithologists ? How ? when the ornithological observers in 

 Heligoland are declared open to suspicion and stigmatized as 

 scientific swindlers ! Are the peculiarities of the ornithology of 

 Heligoland to be divined by ornithologists or known by intui- 

 tion ? or must Gaetke send his collection to every one who ex- 

 hibits an interest in them ? This may be possible ; but I 

 should consider myself as transgressing the limits of propriety 

 in addressing such a request to a man who was quite a stranger 

 to me. And, moreover, of what use would that be, if the collection 

 itself were a mere swindle — if it were " an importation from 

 abroad," and not the product of the island at all ? A spurious 

 specimen can be sent just as easily as an authentic one. And 

 when once public opinion is raised against one who is denounced 

 as a swindler, the most detailed explanations and the most ela- 

 borate proofs will prove of no avail. 



It seemed to me that the best means to obtain correct infor- 

 mation would be for ornithologists to take the trouble to go 

 over to Heligoland and inquire into the matter personally ; and 

 that is what I have myself done this summer. I went to Heligo- 

 land and addressed myself forthwith to Gaetke, declaring honestly 

 and freely that I went there, not for his sake, neither for the 

 sake of the island, but merely for the sake of his ornithological 

 collection ; and I am bound to state that I wxis met on his part 

 with a willingness and frankness which left nothing to desire. 



Gaetke is not a native of Heligoland, but a Prussian by birth. 



