126 WITH THE U. S. NATURALISTS 



four months. So you see, Shan, the migration of 

 bird-life demands observation practically all the 

 year round." 



"But birds must spend a lot of their time mi- 

 grating," exclaimed Shan. 



"A good many of them do," the expert replied, 

 ''and others make a quick journey." 



At this point the pot-hunter spoke. 



"Are you-all sure," he said, "the Wild Duck fly 

 so far north to nest? That's a right smart long 

 way, ain't it?" 



The official laughed. 



"Do you think that's a long way for a powerful 

 flyer like a Wild Duck?" he asked. "What, then, 

 do you think of the Black-poll Warbler, a tiny bird 

 five and a half inches long from the tip of its bill 

 to the end of its tail-feathers, which nests in 

 Alaska and mnters in Brazil? That's a clear 

 seven thousand miles, or fourteen thousand miles 

 there and back." 



' ' Are you-all just guessin ' that ? ' ' the pot-hunter 

 asked. 



"Not a bit of it," the official replied, with 

 assurance; "it is definitely known fact. You'll 

 never find a Black-poll Warbler wintering any- 

 where in North America, not even in Florida, yet 



