M. H. Giatke on the occurrence of American Birds in Europe. 129 
months it is staying principally in Egypt.. On its spring migration, 
which takes place during the earlier half of May, the first place 
north of Egypt where it is to be found with certainty in pretty con- 
siderable numbers is Heligoland. Nowhere in the whole intermediate 
distance is it met with but as a great rarity—not even on the neigh- 
bouring north coast of Germany; whilst here in Heligoland I have 
oftentimes obtained it in such numbers that more than twenty of the 
finest adult male birds have been bought by me in one day, and per- 
haps the same number by the bird-stuffers of the island: The fore- 
going admits of one conclusion only : namely, that this little bird per- 
orms the passage from Egypt to Heligoland in one uninterrupted 
flight, travelling —as many of the other small Insectivore do— 
during the night, starting towards sunset and arriving here about sun- 
rise, or a little later, the time occupied being from twelve to fourteen 
hours. The distance from Egypt to Heligoland being about 400 
phical miles less than that between Newfoundland and Ireland, 
the rate of flight of this delicate little bird may be put down the same 
as that of the above-mentioned Carrier-Pigeon, and consequently 
furnishes a further proof that a healthy well-flying bird is able to 
cross from the nearest point of America to Ireland without rest or 
any extraordinary support whatever. 
In the foregoing I alluded to the ability of non-natatorial birds to 
rest, in case of exhaustion, on the sea, and of rising from it after 
having recovered sufficient strength to resume their flight ; and that, 
too, at times when the water is far from being unruffled. This state- 
ment is based on the following observations. One day, when out in a 
boat shooting, about two or three miles from Heligoland, I observed 
a very small bird swimming on the water. Neither the boatman nor 
myself being able to discern what species it belonged to, we became 
very cager to secure the stranger—conjecturing that it would turn 
out to be some wonderful rarity. When preparing to fire, I fortu- 
nately discovered that the expected prize was nothing but a Song- 
thrush! Immediately our desire to kill was changed into compassion : 
the “‘ poor Thrush”’ in so piteous a situation was to be ‘‘ saved.” 
But how great was our astonishment when, upon the approach of the 
boat, the bird, without any apparent difficulty, rose from the water 
and flew towards Heligoland in first-rate style! Another time we saw 
a Snow-Bunting, evidently exhausted very much, because it was float- 
scarcely 500 yards from the island. At the approach of my 
boat, this bird also very lightly rose from the water, but it was so 
weak that it had to resume its unnatural resting-place after proceed- 
ing about thirty or forty yards towards the rocks. We went after 
it again, and for a third time, but with the same result, whereupon 
we refrained from all further attempts at forcing our well-intended 
assistance upon so obstinate a fellow—the more so, as we entertained 
no doubt that after a little rest he would obtain a more solid foot- 
ing without any help of ours. 
I will give one more instance of this propensity in birds—in all 
my experience the most striking: this time it was a Mountain-Finch 
which had been compelled to alight for rest on the water of the sea ; 
Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 3. Vol. vi. 9 
