THE BIRDS OF HELIGOLAND 401 



ever, in one of the last of the British migration reports there is a 

 note from which it appears that the name Green Bunting is also 

 applied to this species on the east coast of Britain. 



Almost without exception the bird migrates at a very peculiar 

 time of the year, viz. in the months of December, January, and 

 February. Thus it was represented on this island in quite ex- 

 traordinary numbers almost daily during the last month of 1884 

 and the two first months of 1885 ; nor was this a case of large com- 

 panies of these birds remaining for a longer period than usual, but a 

 continuous migration was in progress during all that time. Later 

 in March, however, it seemed as though a small flock was remaining 

 here longer than usual ; scattered stragglers are met with even as 

 late as the end of May. It seems as though this species exhibited 

 but little inclination to leave its home, and can only be induced to 

 do so by the gradually increasing severity of the weather ; hence 

 these birds are nearly always numerously represented among the 

 enormous flights of migrants which, in winter, frequently make 

 their appearance in consequence of sudden frosts or heavy snowfalls. 



This bird is a common breeding species from Portugal to 

 Turkestan, its range from north to south extending from within 

 the Arctic Circle down to north Africa and Asia Minor. 



202. Hawfinch [KERNBEISSER]. 

 FRINGILLA COCCOTHRAUSTES, Meyer. 1 



In Heligoland also called Kernbeisser ( = Kernel-biter). 



Fringilla coccothraustes. Naumann, iv. 435. 



Hawfinch. Dresser, iii. 575. 



Gros-bec mdgaire. Temminck, Manuel, i. 344, iii. 253. 



Although the distribution area of this bird extends from Por- 

 tugal to Japan, it appears in Heligoland in very small numbers 

 only, during both periods of migration : it is rarely that one sees 

 more than three examples in one day, and these for the most part 

 singly. This is the more remarkable as the bird is found breeding 

 in Sleswick-Holstein and southern Scandinavia. According to 

 Naumann, however, the species shows but little migratory tendency ; 

 and, if not forced by very severe weather, will remain even during 

 the winter within the confines of its nesting area. The year 1881 

 was a very exceptional one for Heligoland hi this respect, the 

 unprecedented number of from twelve to fifteen individuals having 

 been seen daily about the middle of April. 



1 Coccothraitste* vulgaris (Pall.). 

 2C 



