2 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



During the past autumn Jays have again passed Heligoland 

 in enormous numbers. Mr. Giitke, under date of October 8th, 

 writes : — "A perfect storm of Jays has passed over, and on both 

 sides of the island, during the last three days. No one living has 

 ever seen the like here ; about fifty years ago enormous numbers 

 were caught here, but during my time only twice or thrice have 

 they come. On the Gth October, S.E., E. by S., very strong, 

 clear, coldish. G. glandarius, continuous nights of hundreds. 

 7th, clear, blew about No. 8: G. glandarius, great flights con- 

 tinually passing. 8th, 8. E., rather fresh, clear: G. glandarius, 

 more than ever passing on above and beside the island." 



It is noticeable that in both these years the migration of the 

 Jay was in October, and continued over three days, and that it was 

 carried on under the circumstances of a strong easterly gale. 



The cpiestion then naturally arises, tohence and whither was 

 this great " storm " of Jays (as Mr. Giitke terms it) steering 

 their course ? Seen then seventy miles from land off the mouth 

 of the Elbe, moving from east to west in a strong easterly gale, 

 continuous flock after flock, never deviating from their course, 

 which was straightforward seemingly across the wide tossing 

 waters of the North Sea, with one purpose animating all alike, 

 the forsaking of their native forests for a long flight to the west. 



Mr. Giitke has always maintained that autumn migration, as 

 observed at Heligoland, does not run north and south, but from 

 east to west, birds invariably coming from the eastward and 

 passing westward. The observations taken during late years on 

 the migration of birds, as observed at ligbtbouses and light- 

 vessels, quite confirm the views of the veteran observer. It is 

 rarely that we find birds coming to our shores from any point 

 north of east ; migration is from east to west, or points south of 

 east to north-easterly points. This great passage of Jays across 

 Heligoland points also to the correctness of his theory, for it 

 could hardly have its origin in the north, the whole of Scandi- 

 navia failing to supply the stream for more than a few hours. 



It is reasonable, therefore, to suppose that they came from 

 Eastern Europe across Germany, from tbe immense forest area 

 between the Oder to beyond the Vistula, and probably much 

 further east than this to the confines of Eastern Europe. That 

 the area covered by this flight was very great we may well judge 

 from the fact that the stream was three days in passing. Whether 



