158 Mr. H. Seebohm on the Ornithology of Heligoland. 



a gun by his side ; the peasant digs his potatoes with a gun 

 on the turf and a heap of birds on his coat. On an island 

 where there are no cows, and sheep are kept for their milk 

 only, meat is of course very dear, especially as it has to be 

 brought by steamer from Hamburg, one of the dearest cattle- 

 markets on the continent of Europe. Birds therefore natu- 

 rally form an important article of diet to the Heligolanders. 

 Every bird which apj^ears is whistled within range with mar- 

 vellous skill. The common birds are eaten, the rare ones 

 are sold to the bird-stufler or taken to Mr. Gaetke. Many of 

 the Heligolanders are clever shots. Long before sunrise the 

 island is bristling with guns ; and after dark the netters are 

 busy at their Throstle-bushes ; and at midnight the birds com- 

 mit suicide against the lighthouse. When we consider that 

 this has been going on for a quarter of a century, and that 

 the results have been carefully chronicled for that length of 

 time, the Avonder is not that so many species of birds have 

 occurred on Heligoland, but that so many have hitherto 

 escaped detection. This must be accounted for on the theory 

 that, alter all, the appearance of birds on Heligoland is only 

 accidental. Under ordinary circumstances a migratory bird 

 does not require to rest on this island. A few hundred miles 

 to a bird on the wing is a trifle in favourable weather. It is 

 only when overtaken by a squall, or driven out of its course 

 by contrary winds, that a bird seeks refuge here. This is 

 obvious after a few weeks'* experience. Certain winds and 

 certain weather fill the island with birds. At other times the 

 island is comparatively empty. Each bird has its time of 

 migration; weather has apparently nothing to do Avith this 

 date ; good weather does not apparently hasten the birds to 

 their breeding-haunts, nor bad weather retard their starting. 

 If the suitable conjunction of circumstances occurs during 

 the season of a certain bird's migration, that bird visits the 

 island. If the season goes by without such conjunction, the 

 bird does not visit the island. The period of its migration 

 is over. The migration of this species has taken place at 

 high altitudes, it may be, or by other routes ; and it is in vain 

 to look for it until its next season of migration comes round. 



