THE BIRDS OF HELIGOLAND 407 



instances of the occurrence of this species can be recorded for the 

 island. This example, which is considerably larger than the young 

 autumn birds (Herbstvogel) of the following species, is distinguished 

 by a faint tinge of red on the edges of the feathers, of which three 

 young autumn birds (Herbstvogel) killed here show no trace. 



The measurements of the example above referred to, as taken 

 from the freshly killed bird, are as follows : Total length, 5 '90 

 ins. (150 mm.); length of wings, 3'34 ins. (85 mm.); length of 

 tail, 2*56 ins. (65 mm.). As compared with these, the measure- 

 ments of a young Scarlet Grosbeak, shot here on the 3rd 

 of October 1851, are as follows : Total length, only 512 ins. 

 (130 mm.); length of wings, 2'95 ins. (75 mm.); length of tail, 

 2-32 ins. (59 mm.). 



As far as is known, the breeding home of this beautiful bird 

 extends from central to eastern Asia. 



209. Scarlet Grosbeak [KARMINGIMPEL]. 

 PYRRHULA ERYTHRINA, PaUas. 



Pyrrhula erythrina. Naumann, iv. xiii. ; Blasius, Nachtrage, 194. 



Scarlet Grosbeak. Dresser, iv. 75. 



Bouvreuil cramoisi. Temminck, Manuel, i. 336, iii. 247. 



Since the 3rd of October 1851, on which day I obtained the 

 first example of this species, the bird has been shot on three other 

 occasions : the last being on September 9th, 1884. All were young 

 birds in the first autumn plumage, and are now preserved in my 

 collection with the exception of one example which, after I had 

 shot it, fell down among the cliffs, and could not be recovered. 

 Apart from these examples, this species has been observed in several 

 other instances without having been shot. The bird is very notice- 

 able by its loud peculiar call-note, which, strange as this may sound, 

 is intermediate between the flute-like note of the Bullfinch and the 

 loud 'Raat' of the Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla). The 

 bird has so little of shyness in its nature that it does not mind 

 being looked at for any length of time at very close quarters, 

 especially if it happens to be sitting on a bush of Sonchus 

 oleraceus, picking out the seeds after the plant has ceased flowering. 

 This plant appears to be its favourite food ; at least I have never 

 seen it feed upon any other in this locality. 



The western limit of the breeding range of this species extends 

 from Poland northwards as far as east Finmark, and it is found 

 nesting within the same parallels of latitude as far as Kamtschatka. 



