62 Prof. Blasius on the Ornithology of Heligoland. 



The manner of preparation leaves no doubt whatever that the 

 specimens were taken from birds freshly killed, and not from 

 dry skins imported from abroad. They were all stuffed and set 

 up by Gaetke himself, who has thus proved himself not only a 

 skilful artist, but also a conscientious naturalist and good ob- 

 server. More perfect specimens with respect to the posture, the 

 setting up and the arrangement of the plumage, than the greater 

 part of the birds of his collection, I know nowhere. Stuffed birds 

 as beautiful as his splendid specimen of the Motacilla certhiola, 

 Pall., as fresh in plumage as his Turdus varius, Pall., as his 

 numerous specimens of Emberiza pusilla, Pall., of Actitis riifes- 

 cens, Vieill., and of his Larus roseus in winter plumage, I never 

 met with. 



Even the incidental narratives and assertions of the islanders 

 with respect to birds of passage agree perfectly with Gaetke's 

 diary and his collection. The natives have not the slightest 

 knowledge of systematic or conventional names ; they call the 

 birds according to certain peculiarities of voice or habits, in 

 addition to some known name. So, for instance, the Anthus 

 richardi, Vieill., is called the " Brief," from its call ; and the 

 Anthus campestris is called the " Kleine Brief." Generally these 

 denominations bear a character of naivete, and they show at all 

 events a fixed and quick perception and observation. Like the 

 impassioned hunter who remembers every step, every movement 

 of the stag or roebuck he has killed, and who will in after years 

 tell you about his thoughts and feelings, and boast of his prowess 

 in chase of the noble animal — how he stooped, glided and crept 

 on the plain or the hill-side — in the same manner the island- 

 gunners will recount the history of evei'y bird they have killed 

 and delivered for Gaetke's collection. When vou are ridins; 

 or walking with them along the island and direct the conversa- 

 tion to this subject, it will seem to you as though every winding 

 of the rock were animated. " Here I found, amongst more 

 than a hundred dead sv/allows, the beautiful red-headed one 

 {Hirundo rufula, Temm,), which had been chased by Gaetke for 

 two days at the peril of his life ; here my brother killed the 

 beautiful red cuneate-tailed Gull [Larus roseus, Jard. & Selby)." 

 On one occasion, having taken my usual walk on the island 



