COURSE OF MIGRATION IN HELIGOLAND 21 



especially of small Crustacea, there is in this district, abounding as 

 it does in reefs and submerged rocks, an even extraordinary 

 abundance. It is therefore not surprising that the number of 

 individuals of the species congregating here should be such as to 

 defy even an approximate estimate. 



The species before mentioned are now joined by many old 

 examples of the Golden-eye and the Red-breasted Merganser, 

 enormous numbers of old males of the Common Scoter, and, lastly, 

 of the Velvet Scoter ; old males of the Eider Duck are less 

 numerous. Finally, we must mention the Smew, though the 

 number of individuals of this species met with near Heligoland is 

 invariably small. 



The view which now presents itself to the spectator for a dis- 

 tance of many miles beyond the island is one of wondrous beauty 

 and of quite peculiar grandeur. Towards north, east, and south, 

 farther than the eye can reach, there stretches the white, vast, and 

 unbroken icefield. In lee of its for the most part sharply defined 

 margin, a perfect calm prevails, and the smooth surface of the sea 

 is covered with myriads of Ducks in glossy black plumage. Closer 

 in shore, especially to the north of the island, smaller species make 

 their winter home, whilst farther off, the handsome old males of 

 the Red-breasted Merganser are swimming about in bands of from 

 eighty to one hundred and twenty-five individuals. 



At the same time, countless multitudes of all sorts of species are 

 seen speeding towards all parts, and in all directions, in companies 

 great and small, solitary and in pairs. Indeed, I have known days 

 on which I have seen, far as the eye could reach, in all quarters of 

 the sky, swarms of these birds crossing each other in all directions ; 

 and more astonishing still, on looking upward, have beheld above 

 me a teeming multitude, so thick that the highest swarms pre- 

 sented the appearance of scarcely discernible clouds of dust. In 

 fact, the whole vault of heaven was literally filled to a height of 

 several thousand feet with these visitors from the regions of the 

 far North. Here, flocks of the Common Scoter, in their green 

 glossy plumage, hasten, with rapid strokes of the wings, and there, 

 crossing their path, approaches a company of twenty Velvet Scoters, 

 in their deep black plumage set off by wings with spots of dazzling 

 white. Even in the far distance, by their beautiful dark green heads 

 and the peculiar round white spots between beak and eye, we are 

 able to recognise the beautiful Golden-eyes as they fly hither and 

 thither, alone or in companies. Scarcely has our eye been turned 

 towards a long chain of prettily-marked Scaups, when a group of 

 splendid creamy-red Goosanders at once distracts our attention. 

 Among all these are mingled, like swarms of insects, teeming 



