44 ON THE NATURAL ^HISTORY OF THE NIGHTINGALE. 



Stances of the American Coccyzus, and even the Whitewinged 

 Crossbill, traversing the whole breadth of the Atlantic ocean. The 

 fact is, that even the most feeble flyers are enabled to cross a very 

 wide extent of sea, when borne along by a favourable gale of wind ; 

 while, at the same time, the most powerfully- winged of the smaller 

 birds require s©me assistance of this kind, when they perform a long 

 journey. American species are only observed upon our shores after 

 high winds from the west ; and the amazingly extensive flight of 

 Goldcrests, of which Mr. Selhy witnessed the arrival upon our 

 Northumbrian coast, he states to have been, " after a very severe 

 gale, from the north-west." -Quails have been described always to 

 delay their minatory flights till the wind was propitious ; and, 

 indeed, there can be very few individuals but must have often no- 

 ticed with what rapidity a bird is borne along upon a windy day. 



They rise over the highest European mountain chaitis. — Again, I 

 have had occasion to speak of birds being turned out of their course 

 by a chain of mountains, and also of their having accomplished a 

 passage over the Pyrenees. They, undoubtedly, may deviate a 

 little from a direct route, when a line of ridges presents itself to 

 them diagonally ; but when a chain latitudinally impedes their pro- 

 gress, they are known to cross the very highest of the European 

 mountain barriers. On this subject, M. Temminck observes, even 

 of the short -winged Grebes, and other species which, as he says, 

 *' are unprovided with powerful means of flight. The Divers, the 

 Grebes, and other fresh-water fowl, which seldom fly far when 

 occupied with the cares of pairing and breeding, are," he relates, 

 " endowed with wonderful powers for this action. Their flight is 

 vigorous and long sustained ; and they rise even above the high 

 mountains, for it is not rare to find individuals of these species on 

 the lakes of the Alps, where the waders and web-footed kinds are 

 often killed." 



They return, year after year, to the same spot. — Another very 

 general law among migratory birds, but which appears to have been 

 hitherto but little known to most who have written on the subject, 

 is, for them to return, year after year, to the spot where they first 

 took up their abode, and, in most cases, to the place where they 

 were brought up, (but of this I shall speak presently) ; of the truth 

 of which any one may be convinced who will take the trouble of 

 procuring a few live swallows in autumn, securely fastening some 

 shreds of ribband to their feet, and letting them fly ; when some of 

 them (at least), which have met with no mishap during the inte- 

 rim, will be observed to reappear the following spring, with the 



