THE BIRDS OF HELIGOLAND 485 



Rising at early dawn, we set out for the spot where we propose 

 to take up our stance, proceeding on our way with as little noise as 

 possible ; with such passers-by as we happen to meet, we exchange 

 in subdued tones a few words as to what chances of sport the fine 

 calm weather is likely to promise. At intervals the far-sounding 

 call of a solitary Blackbird strikes our ears. Suddenly, with the 

 whi/xing noise of a rocket, a flock of migrating Song Thrushes dives 

 down obliquely from a great height. Again, a soft ' tschu-tschti- 

 tschu-tschii,' betokens the wing-beats of a passing Woodcock, the 

 bird itself unseen. This is soon followed by the short sharp 

 sound of the line of a falling net, and the dull ' thud ' of the cap- 

 tured bird hurled forcibly on its back on the ground the short, 

 sure, and painless method adopted here for despatching birds which 

 have been caught in the net. Somewhat accelerating our pace, we 

 soon arrive at our stance. It is as yet too dark for shooting, but 

 our auditory faculties are the more keenly aroused. The soft call- 

 note of the Redbreast resounds from far and near, while at inter- 

 vals of varying length a passing Woodcock, hidden in obscurity, 

 betrays its presence by the sound of the low beatings of its wings. 

 Then for a time all is silence, save that from the quiet sea beyond, 

 there is carried to our ear the subdued roar of a long-drawn wave, 

 as, rolling lazily along, it breaks upon a sunken reef like the wan 

 phantom of a storm which has long since spent its force. 



But soon day dawns, and the sport begins. If we have 

 chosen the foot of the cliff for the field of operations, and there 

 is not too great a number of shooters distributed along it, we 

 may bring down from ten to fifteen birds in the course of a few 

 hours, the first of these numbers being the greatest which I have 

 ever obtained under these conditions. A far better result, however, 

 is attained when one is alone, or nearly so, on the scene of 

 operations, as was the case with the brothers Aeuckens in the 

 previously related instance. Frequently a very large number of 

 shooters take up their posts at the bottom of the cliff along the 

 whole length of the island from north to south ; and if the birds 

 are plentiful during these early morning hours, the shots will 

 succeed each other with such rapidity that one might almost fancy 

 them to proceed from a line of skirmishers. As a rule, however, 

 these marksmen belong to a type whose lead is usually more 

 powerfully attracted by surrounding space than by the object of 

 sport, so that the sound of repeated ' bang-bangs ' is generally a 

 good indication of the advent of a bird. 



In this connection we may take leave to point out that it is a 

 great mistake to suppose, as has been frequently stated, that the 

 birds, on arriving here, are so much exhausted and out of condi- 



