THE BIRDS OF HELIGOLAND 181 



the bird, like all birds of prey when surprised in this manner, 

 flew off in an almost vertical i.e. downward direction. 



It is rather strange that this Eagle, which according to 

 Rohweder (Vogel Schleswig-Holstein's, p. 5), is resident, though 

 only sparingly, throughout the whole of that district, should not 

 occasionally fly across to this neighbouring island. Evidently it is 

 limited very strictly to a north-to-south line of migration. 



This bird occurs as a breeding species in central and southern 

 Europe, and Asia. 



17. Gos-hawk [HUHNERHABICHT]. 

 FALCO PALUMBARIUS, Linn. 1 



Heligolandish : Groot hoafk = Great Hawk. 



Falco palumbarius. Naumann, i. 249. 



Gos-hawk. Dresser, v. 587. 



Autour. Temminck, Manuel, i. 55, iii. 27 



This stately bird of prey has only been seen four or five times 

 in Heligoland during the last fifty years. Two of these examples 

 are in my collection, one a young, the other an old bird The 

 latter was shot on the 8th of March 1880, and is a fine female in 

 adult plumage ; the other a young autumn bird, in the too zealous 

 pursuit of a prospective victim, got into the throstle-bush and was 

 caught. 



The Gos-hawk is distributed as a breeding species over the 

 whole of Europe and Asia ; that its visits to Heligoland are so rare, 

 although, according to Rohweder (I.e.), it is abundant, and even 

 nests pretty frequently in the neighbouring district of Schleswig- 

 Holstein, is probably due to the complete absence of trees on this 

 island. To the same cause its rare appearance on the island of 

 Borkum is probably attributable. (Droste-Htilshoff, Vogelwelt der 

 Nordseeinsel Borkum.) 



18. Sp arrow-Hawk [FINKENHABICHT]. 



FALCO NISUS, Linn. 2 

 Heligolandish : Liilj hoafk = Little Hawk. 

 Falco nisus. Naumann, i. 258. 



Sparroio Hawk. Dresser, v. 599. 

 Epervier. Temminck, Manuel, i. 56, iii. 28. 



The autumn migration of the smaller birds provides a well- 

 spread table for this nimble robber, and it accordingly does not 



1 Astur palumbarius (Linn.). 2 Accipiter nisus (Linn.). 



