x BIRDS OF HELIGOLAND 



with himself, but was in duty bound to make them known to 

 inquirers in the same domain of Science. It is the sense of this 

 duty which alone has prompted me to publish these experiences. 



In the following pages I shall endeavour, to the best of 

 my ability, to discharge this duty. The manner in which I 

 shall perform this task is of secondary importance, nor after 

 what I have said at the outset of this preface am I likely to 

 be subjected to a severe criticism in this respect. The facts 

 alone are of importance, and these consist solely and exclusively 

 of such material as it has been my good fortune to meet with 

 here, without any kind of merit on my own part. 



H. GATKE. 



HELIGOLAND, May 1890. 



Mr. Gatke writes on the 14th of May 1895 : ' The number of the 

 Heligoland birds has recently been increased by one, viz. the Great 

 Bustard (Otis tarda), a female shot here April 18th, thus making 

 the total number of birds observed in Heligoland stand at 398.' 



[This note was received too late for insertion at its proper place.} 



