158 Mr. H. Seebohm on the Ornithology of Heligoland. 
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 natu¬ 
rally form an important article of diet to the Ileligolanders. 
Every bird which appears is whistled within range with mar¬ 
vellous skill. The common birds are eaten, the rare ones 
are sold to the bird-stuffer or taken to Mr. Gaetke. 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-bushes; and at midnight the birds com¬ 
mit suicide against the lighthouse. When we consider that 
this has been going on for a quarter of a century, and that 
the results have been carefully chronicled for that length of 
time, the wonder is not that so many species of birds have 
occurred on Heligoland, but that so many have hitherto 
escaped detection. This must be accounted for on the theory 
that, after all, the appearance of birds on Heligoland is only 
’ accidental. Under ordinary circumstances a migratory bird 
does not require to rest on this island. A few hundred miles 
to a bird on the wing is a trifle in favourable weather. It is 
only when overtaken by a squall, or driven out of its course 
by contrary winds, that a bird seeks refuge here. This is 
obvious after a few weeks’ experience. Certain winds and 
certain weather All the island with birds. At other times the 
island is comparatively empty. Each bird has its time of 
migration; weather has apparently nothing to do with this 
date ; good weather does not apparently hasten the birds to 
their breeding-haunts, nor bad weather retard their starting. 
If the suitable conjunction of circumstances occurs during 
the season of a certain bird’s migration, that bird visits the 
island. If the season goes by without such conjunction, the 
bird does not visit the island. The period of its migration 
is over. The migration of this species has taken place at 
high altitudes, it may be, or by other routes ; and it is in vain 
to look for it until its next season of migration comes round, 
