212 THE BIRDS OF HELIGOLAND 



infancy of local taxidermy : its feet being thickly painted over with 

 cinnabar. I gave it away again, much to my later regret; and, 

 I believe, it will be found in the Gorlitz Collection. On the 14th 

 of September 1868 an Alpine Chough was again seen here, but was 

 not shot ; and a few years later my eldest son saw two examples 

 flying across the island out of gunshot-range, but still near enough 

 for him to be able distinctly to recognise their yellow beaks. 



The Alpine Chough breeds in the higher mountain-ranges of 

 Europe and Asia, at a height of from eight to fourteen thousand 

 feet. 



47. Red-billed Chough [STEINKRAHE]. 

 CORVUS GRACULUS, Linn. 1 



Corvus gracuhis. Naumann, ii. 114, xiii. 212 ; Blasius, Nachtrage, 42. 



Red-billed Chough. Dresser, iv. 437. 



Pyrrhocorax coracias. Temminck, Manuel, i. 122, iii. 69. 



During the many years that I have made observations on this 

 island, this bird has only occurred twice, the first time in May 1871 

 or 1872 my journal for those two years unfortunately has been 

 lost, so that I am unable to give the exact date and the second 

 time, on the 28th of March 1877. This latter example, throughout 

 the whole day, repeatedly took rest for fairly long intervals on the 

 weathercock of the church-tower, and exhibited his red beak to 

 the admiration of everybody, and to the special annoyance of all 

 gunners ; nevertheless, despite all efforts, it was not killed. 



The Red-billed Chough is a breeding bird from Portugal to 

 China ; in north-west Africa ; and, in the north, on the rocky coasts 

 of Great Britain. Its nests are invariably placed in high rocks. 



Shrike Lanius. This genus, which is very nearly related to the 

 preceding, especially to the Jays, comprises, according to Seebohm, 

 about forty species, which are, in great part, inhabitants of the 

 Old World. Six of these belong to Europe, while a seventh 

 L. borealis has only within recent times extended its breeding 

 range into eastern Europe ; and L. phoenicuroides can only be 

 regarded as a casual visitant, one example having reached Heligo- 

 land from central Asia, 



1 Pyrrhocorax graculus (Linn.) 



