194 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



mens. It is said by some to be a cruel science, leading to a constant 

 destruction of life. As far as the true naturalist is concerned, this 

 is a most unjust accusation. He seeks for specimens to study their 

 form, colour, and internal anatomy for purposes of comparison. But with 

 him there is no wanton destruction of life — no sportsman's thirst for 

 spoils. With his knowledge of structural form, come higher and nobler 

 views, and he now endeavours to make himself conversant with their 

 habits and social relations. 



Few things are more striking than the migration of birds; yet how little 

 correct information do we possess on this subject. We watch the swallow 

 come and go; but what spirit guides it on its trackless journey? 



Is it not wonderful to see the variety of little fragile summer birds — 

 which, from their extremely delicate frames, seem as if a gust of wind 

 would waft them to destruction — coming to build almost within a day 

 of their expected time; and to think how hard their little pinions must 

 work from the time they leave land, till they again set foot upon it. 



In this country we have summer visitors, winter visitors, and residents. 

 Those which come to us in the spring, arrive for the purposes of 

 breeding; those which appear in winter, come for food — such as the 

 fieldfare, redwing, snipe, etc., and a few of the latter doubtless breed here, 

 the bulk of them repair to Norway and Sweden for the purposes of in- 

 cubation. Why the fieldfare and redwing leave us for a northern 

 summer, when others of the same family remain all the year round — 

 such as the common thrush, the missel thrush, the blackbird, etc., — we 

 know not. These are subjects of great interest to the naturalist, and it 

 is only by accurate notes that the mysteries of migration will ultimately 

 be unravelled. 



The joyous little harbingers of spring have now arrived, all clothed in 

 their brightest plumage, full of energy and life, redolent in song and 

 in happiness, greeting, as it were, with their vocal music, the native 

 islanders upon whose domains they come to pass the summer months. 

 The great business of their transient lives is now called forth — the con- 

 tinuance of their race. 



The birds having paired, suitable places are selected for building their 

 nests; and here, how singularly the habit of the bird is shewn. In the 

 places chosen, the shy and timid, the bold and confident, have marked 

 peculiarities. 



The grasshopper warbler builds her nest so as almost to escape detection. 

 Mr. Yarrell remarks, that, "unless the old birds are closely watched, and 

 seen carrying materials for building, or food for the young, the nest is 

 very difficult to find." He mentions one discovered by Mr. E. Wingate, 

 of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, who watched the bird to the distant passage on 



