THE BIRDS OF HELIGOLAND 389 



189. Snow Finch [SCHNEEFINK]. 

 FKINGILLA NIVALIS, Linn. 



Fringilla nivalis. Naumann, v. 4. 



Snow Finch. Dresser, iii. 617. 



Gros-bec niverolh. Temrainck, Manuel, i. 362, iii. 261. 



This peculiar Finch, with the wings and tail of a Snow Bunting, 

 as Aeuckens describes it, has occurred here twice ; the first time on 

 March 30th 1849, and on one other occasion Aeuckens saw it in 

 late autumn, but did not secure it. On the first-named date the 

 wind was a light south-east and the weather fine. Light east winds 

 prevailed at that time generally, and were productive of a copious 

 migration; thus, a short time previously, a Citril Finch was seen, a 

 species which has also only been twice observed here. 



The nesting stations of this species approach the snow-line of 

 the higher mountain- ranges of Europe and Asia from Spain to 

 Turkestan (Irby, Sewertzoft). It is only when these regions become 

 inhospitable during the winter months that the bird descends to 

 lower-lying districts : it has, in fact, no proper migration. 



190. Goldfinch [DISTELFINK]. 

 FRINGILLA CARDUELIS, Linn. 1 



Heligolandish : Ziebelitsch = Goldfinch. 



Fringilla carduelis. Naumann, v. 126. 



Goldfinch. Dresser, iii. 527. 



Gros-bec chardonneret. Temminck, Manuel, i. 376, iii. 269. 



This elegant bird occurs here almost always in solitary in- 

 stances, from three to five individuals in one day counting among 

 the exceptions. Its autumn migration takes place in October, and 

 the spring migration from the middle of April to the end of May ; 

 now and again it is seen during the mass- migrations of seed- 

 eating species which are caused by a heavy snowfall and sudden 

 frost during the whiter months. 



The breeding area of this species extends over the whole of 

 Europe, and in Norway advances beyond the Arctic Circle. It also 

 breeds in the Canaries, Madeira, north-west Africa, Asia Minor, 

 and eastwards as far as the Altai Mountains. 



1 Carduelis elegans (Steph.). 



