254 iV^/e5 and Nexvs. \k^^^ 



Heinrich Gatke, an Honorary Member of the American Ornitholo" 

 gists' Union, died at liis home on the little island of Helgoland, on 

 Jannarv i, 1S97, at the advanced age of nearlj' 84 years. He was an artist 

 by profession, and visited Helgoland when twenty-three years of age for 

 the purpose of making marine studies, and soon after was married there 

 and made the island his life residence. He appears to have been early 

 interested in birds, and soon after settling in Helgoland, he began to 

 collect specimens and to make the observations on the migrations of 

 birds, which have since made both Herr Gatke and the island of Helgo- 

 land famous in the annals of ornithology. Although he published many 

 notes and minor papers on the birds of Helgoland, and on molting and 

 color-change in birds, the ornithological results of his life work are com- 

 prised in his ' Vogelwarte Helgoland,' published in 1890 (see Auk, VHI, 

 1891, pp. 299. 300), and republished in English in 1895 (see Auk, XH, 

 1895, pp. 322-346, and XHI, 1896, pp. I37-I53)- As this work has already 

 been noticed at length in this journal, further comment is not necessary 

 in the present connection. Suffice it to say that while his observations, 

 covering a period of fifty years, on the birds of Helgoland, and particularly' 

 on their migrations, are of the utmost value, his deductions and conclu- 

 sions based thereon are not equalh' trustworthy, owing doubtless to the 

 very limited extent of the area under observation and the lack of 

 experience elsewhere. The following is from a recent sketch of Gatke by 

 Mr. H. E. Dresser, published in 'The Zoologist' (March, 1897, P- i4o)- 

 " Of vei-y tall and commanding presence, with flowing hair and beard, 

 . . . Gatke possessed an extremely genial and pleasant manner, and was 

 an interesting companion. Always ready to impart information, he 

 placed his notes most unreservedly at the disposal of any ornithologist 

 who visited the island. . . . Although of German origin [he was " born 

 at Pritzwalk, Mark Brandenburg"], he spoke and wrote English like an 

 Englishman, and was in some respects even more English than German. 



"Those who have known and learnt to appreciate his sterling worth 

 will grieve deeply for him ; but though he has gone his work remains, and 

 his ' Vogelwarte Helgoland ' will stand as a monument of industry and 

 careful observation, carried on during a longjand useful life. His intel- 

 lect remained unimpaired to the last few days, and his end was a most 

 peaceful one, carefully tended as he was by his devoted family." 



Captain Platte M. Thorne, U. S. A., an Associate Member of the 

 American Ornithologists' Union, died at his home in Rochester, N. Y., 

 March 16, 1897, after a short illness from a complication of ailments, at 

 the age of 59 years. He was born in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and was a son 

 of Judge Thorne of that city. In 1S61 he enlisted at the head of the One 

 Hundred and Fiftieth New York Volunteers, and served with distinction 

 throughout the Civil War, being at one time on the staff of General 

 Slocum, and later Acting Inspector-General to General Sheridan. At the 

 close of the war he was brevetted Lieutenant-Colonel for faithful and 



