V "!'s0 111 ] Allen, Gatke's 'Heligoland.' 1 45 



the test of observation and experiment [p. 100]. . . . But this 

 representation ... is really nothing more than a plausibly sound- 

 ing fable, in which — quite after the manner of a fable — the old 

 and wise individuals represent the teachers and guides of simple 

 youth: In reality, however, this explanation of the question not 

 only lacks all support of actual facts, but is entirely at variance 

 with every observation hitherto made in Nature"** (p 102). While 

 there is perhaps a taint of the fabulous in the case as here put, 

 if taken too literally — namely, that the young are led and guided 

 by the old and experienced — it is difficult to understand the 

 arrogance and dogmatism of the portion of the above extract here 

 printed in italics, since numberless observers of the widest expe- 

 rience and utmost trustworthiness take the opposite view from 

 Herr Giitke on this matter. While Gatke's experience may 

 exceed that of most other observers as regards length of time, 

 it is confined to a minute locality and to exceptional conditions, 

 whereas the published evidence he so loftily declares not to exist 

 is based on the experiences of observers whose field of research 

 includes vast areas and more normal conditions. 



Speaking of Heligoland, he thus summarizes the " incontestable 

 result of all the numerous phenomena " there observed as follows : 

 " 1. That under normal conditions in the case of the 396 species 

 occurring here, with the exception of a single one [the Cuckoo], 

 the autumn migration is initiated by the young birds, from about 

 six to eight weeks after leaving their nests. 2. That the parents 

 of these young individuals do not follow till one or two months 

 later. 3. That of these old birds again, the most handsome old 

 males are the last to set out on the migratory journey. In spring 

 this order is inverted'' (p. 102). 



This explicit statement that in the case of these 396 species 

 (with the one exception noted), "the autumn migration is initiated 

 by the young birds, from about six to eight weeks after leaving 

 their nests," seems at first sight to carry great weight, and we 

 naturally turn to Part III of the book to learn what these species 

 are and their status as Heligoland birds. An examination of the 

 list soon reveals the fact that over 200 of the 396 species must be 

 classed as merely stragglers to Heligoland, 1 more than one half of 



1 See Coues, 'The Auk,' Vol. XII, 1895, PP- 3 22- 346- 



