70 

 ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 



BY T. C. 



THERE is no subject connected with birds more interesting- or more 

 wonderful than their migration : so wonderful is this habit, that it has 

 given rise to much discussion, and diversity of opinion ; and notwith- 

 standing the numerous proofs which have been advanced in favour 

 of this beautiful and astonishing habit, many are yet unconvinced, 

 or are so bigoted to their own opinion, as to be inconvincible. 



There is no greater obstacle to the acquisition of knowledge than 

 that prejudice, which is often so deeply rooted in some narrow minds 

 (and that too, without consideration or examination of facts), that it is 

 almost impossible to eradicate it, or to convince them of their error ; 

 how clear soever may be the proofs brought forward in opposition 

 to their favourite theory. 



Since I troubled you with a few remarks on the migration of 

 swallows, and which appeared in your number for January, I have 

 been informed that, " there is abundant proof of the swallow's remain- 

 ing in a state of torpidity," and also that "this fact is well known." 

 I have therefore been induced to trespass upon your patience with 

 a few more remarks upon the subject, though I must confess that I 

 think the migration of swallows is now generally acknowledged. 



The accurate and intelligent observer, White of Selborne, however, 

 evidently inclined more in favour of torpidity than of migration, as 

 appears in many places throughout his interesting letters. He says, 

 " It is very remarkable that after the hirundines have disappeared 

 for some time, a few are occasionally seen again ; sometimes in the 

 first week of November and that only for one day. Do they not 

 withdraw, and slumber in some hiding place during the interval ? &c. 

 Speaking of the sand martin, he observes "it is easy to suppose that 

 they may, like bats and flies, have been awakened by the influence of 

 the sun amidst their secret latebrce, where they have spent the 

 uncomfortable foodless months in a torpid state, and the profoundest 

 of slumbers." 



Now as I have already observed, it is possible that these individuals 

 may have retired to some hole, and there remained in a state of slumber, 

 but this is no proof that this slumber was torpidity ; and it is possible 



* The alleged evidence for this I have given in " Faculties of Birds." ED. 



