2 JANUARY 



elusions have been come to. The old rigid division 

 of British birds into migratory and resident species 

 has been shown to be untenable, for it has been 

 proved that nearly all birds change their quarters 

 according to the season ; and perhaps the only one 

 which can be said to be strictly and constantly 

 resident is the house sparrow. Even the partridge, 

 hitherto looked on as the most confirmed stay-at- 

 home, has been detected making a passing call in 

 Heligoland, as Herr Gatke assures us in his remark- 

 able record of fifty years' observation. 1 



Bird movement is one of the most venerable of 

 mysteries. From the earliest times birds were 

 looked on as messengers between heaven and earth, 

 between invisible and visible beings : the time, the 

 mode, the direction of their flight, were interpreted 

 to 'indicate the future course of events affecting 

 nations as well as individuals ; but we have grown 

 so knowing that, although 'augury' and 'auspice' 

 are still words of honest repute in our language, 

 few who use them connect them with avis, a bird, 

 whence they are derived. 



But no sooner has mankind learnt to blush for 



i Heligoland as an Ornithological Observatory. By Herr Gatke. 

 Edinburgh : D. Douglas, 1895. 



