MIGRATION IN HELIGOLAND. 
169 
radiate from it in all directions, and in the dim air seem to 
stretch into infinite space ; the consciousness of the near 
presence of the great sea around, and the complete absence of 
every sound in surrounding Nature, all these combine to form a 
picture of the utmost solemnity and grandeur.” Mr. Gatke 
then tells us how this stillness is broken by the cry of a thrush, 
followed by the call note of a lark. Suddenly the ghiik of a black- 
bird is heard, followed by a flock of sand-pipers. The skylarks 
increase in numbers, and are heard approaching and departing, 
the calls of the snipe, golden plover and curlew follow in rapid 
succession, followed by the fleldfare and redwing. 
Then come quick cries from swarms of knots, accompanied 
by many unknown cries, some of which are supposed to proceed 
from the heron and its relations. “ The whole sky is now filled 
with a babel of hundreds of thousands of voices, and as we 
approach the lighthouse there presents itself to the eye a scene 
which more than confirms the experience of the ear. Under 
the intense glare of the light, swarms of larks, starlings and 
thrushes career around in ever varying density, like showers of 
brilliant sparks or huge snowflakes driven onwards by a gale, 
and continuously replaced as they disappear by freshly arriving 
multitudes. Mingled with these birds are large numbers of 
golden plovers, lapwings, curlews and sand- pipers. Now and 
again, too, a woodcock is seen, or an owl with slow beating of 
the wings, emerges from the darkness into the circle of light, 
but again speedily vanishes, accompanied by the plaintive cry of 
an unhappy thrush that has become its prey.” 
The short, raw cold days of November drive many northern 
birds from their homes. Linnets, greenfinches and shorelarks 
appear in great companies, and snow-buntings, described as 
“boisterous birds,” hooded crows, starlings, fieldfares and red- 
wings continue their migration late into the month ; and wild 
geese and ducks rush past with restless speed. Rare birds of 
prey are now seen, and of sea-birds, the kittiwake defies all 
attempts at computation, while many species of gulls, old and 
young, may be seen soaring over the sea, and others too numer- 
ous to name. 
In December the migration of the birds depends much on the 
prevailing temperature of the month. Should the weather be 
mild, starlings, blackbirds, fieldfares and redwings continue 
their migration up to the close of the year. But all is changed 
should a frost and sharp east wind set in early. In this 
case, all the birds just named, as well as golden plovers, 
curlews, oyster-catchers and sand-pipers rush in one night 
towards their winter quarters, and countless flocks of swans, 
geese and ducks, &c., may be seen in the clouds over the 
sea by day. If the frost be accompanied with a heavy fall 
of snow, hundreds of thousands of skylarks, twites, linnets, 
greenfinches, &c., arrive the next day, and should the 
severe weather continue, sea-birds, such as northern diving 
