MIGRATION IN HELIGOLAND 197 



concerned. The authenticity of the Heligoland skins is 

 beyond all possible question. During the time I spent 

 on the island, from the 23rd of September to the iSth of 

 October, I either shot or saw in the flesh such a variety 

 of birds that I could almost agree with my friend Mr. Gatke 

 when he stated that he would willingly exchange his col- 

 lection of rare birds shot in Heligoland for those which 

 had passed over the island without being obtained. It is 

 probable, however, that the latter bear a much smaller 

 proportion to the former in Heligoland than in any other 

 place. 



The fact is that this little island is the only part of 

 the world of which the ornithology has been properly 

 worked. Every little boy in the island is a born and 

 bred ornithologist. Every unfortunate bird which visits 

 the island has to run the gauntlet of about forty guns, to 

 say nothing of scores of blowpipes and catapults. The 

 flight and note of every bird is familiar to every islander. 

 Each bird has its own local name in the Heligoland 

 language. A new bird is instantly detected. The fisher- 

 man steers with a gun by his side ; the peasant digs his 

 potatoes with a gun on the turf, and a heap of birds on 

 his coat. On an island where there are no cows, and 

 sheep are kept for their milk only, meat is of course very 

 dear, especially as it has to be brought by steamer from 

 Hamburg, one of the dearest cattle-markets on the 

 continent of Europe. Birds therefore naturally form an 

 important article of diet to the Heligolanders. Every 

 bird which appears is whistled within range with mar- 

 vellous skill. The common birds are eaten, the rare 

 ones sold to the bird-stuffer, and the new ones taken to 

 Gatke. Many of the Heligolanders are clever shots. 

 Long before sunrise the island is bristling with guns ; 

 and after dark the netters are busy at their throstle- 



