MIGRATION IN HELIGOLAND. 
167 
Heligoland more than fifty years ago on account of his health, 
his profession as a marine painter accounting for his choice of 
this rocky island, and gradually “ Nature herself put the pen in 
his hand,” as he expresses it, and prompted him to record his 
observations. The opening chapter deals with the course of 
migration in Heligoland, and includes a record of the bird life of 
the months. In January there is not much to record beyond 
the occasional visits of guillemots to their breeding places on 
the cliffs (guillemots, auks, and the inevitable sparrows would 
seem to be the only birds who breed regularly on that rocky 
island, bereft as it is of woods and groves) ; the guillemots come 
in thousands to make occasional visits of inspection during the 
winter months, when, “ amid the exchange of endless obeisances 
and incessant altercations, they carry on an animated conversa- 
tion, in which everyone of them seems to be talking, but not one 
to be listening.” Then, according to the mildness of the weather, 
in January, come detachments of starlings and skylarks, the 
largeness of the flocks depending on the mildness of the tem- 
perature. In February roving companies of the missel-thrush 
and fieldfare may be seen, and should the month be fine and 
mild, large flocks of starlings, sk3darks, plovers, and occasional 
pied and grey wagtails make their appearance. 
With the advent of March there is much to record. The 
stonechat may be seen, the “ messenger of spring,” as it is 
called there, and flocks of larks and starlings still pass. Snow 
buntings appear in swarms. Rooks begin their regular migra- 
tion, and, as the month goes on, “ great flocks of thousands of 
hooded crows, rooks and jackdaws may be seen passing over the 
island during the whole month.” The hedge-sparrow, described 
as a most confiding little bird, makes a visit to the Heligoland 
gardens, together with redbreasts and male chaffinches. 
April brings yet more changes in bird life. The island is 
alive with redbreasts, willow wrens, yellow wagtails and finches, 
and flocks of hooded crows and jackdaws still pass over. May 
is the month, however, when the spring migration reaches a 
climax. Birds of prey of divers kinds, flycatchers, warblers, 
blue-headed wagtails, tree pipits, finches, swallows and swifts 
pass over, and cuckoos are seen daily, and sometimes heard, 
whilst the breeding places of the guillemots present a scene of 
wonderful animation. After enumerating these and many other 
birds the author remarks : “ During the hours of night this great 
host of wanderers sweeps across and past the island without 
taking rest thereon ; some of the birds travelling singly, others 
in smaller or larger groups, according to the nature of the 
species — all striving to gain their far-off homes. About sunrise, 
however, and during the early hours of the forenoon, thousands 
and tens of thousands of these birds break their journey ; some, 
too, at sunset, in order to make a few hours’ stay on the island.” 
In June there is but little to interest the ornithologist, 
although up to the middle of the month some of the swallows. 
