156 WITH THE U. S. NATURALISTS 



many thousands of feet above it, surely and safely 

 to the distant goal.' 



' ' The birds and the travels of the birds ! Shan, 

 have you ever thought that Columbus would never 

 have discovered America but for the migration of 

 the birds ? You will remember that, on October 3 

 of the eventful year 1492, mutiny had broken out 

 in the crew of that little caravel. But, in the log 

 of the following day, Christopher Columbus wrote 

 that they were visited 'by such jQocks of birds and 

 the indications of land became so numerous that, 

 from a state of despondency, they passed to one 

 of confident expectation.' And when, three days 

 later, the flocks became even more abundant, head- 

 ing for the southwest — as we now know, flying 

 from the Bermudas — Columbus changed his 

 course, rightly reasoning that land birds would not 

 migrate thus unless they were heading for a place 

 where they might rest and feed. Hence it was 

 that he landed on the Bahamas and discovered the 

 New World. 



''Columbus discovered America, it is true, but 

 the migrant bird was his pilot ! ' ' 



