Bird Migration from America to Europe 69 



and Labrador, across Guiana and Northern Brazil, to 

 Lower South America, or three thousand two hundred 

 geographical miles. 



It has been further observed that in the course of their 

 normal passage these birds neither resort to Bermuda noi 

 to the Antilles for resting purposes, but fly across without 

 alighting, and the only interruption of the journey is when 

 forced by sudden and violent storms, in which case count- 

 less numbers of them seek shelter on one or other of these 

 aforementioned islands. Observation has also revealed 

 the fact that they travel in a southerly direction some six 

 hundred miles east of Bermuda, for whole days and nights 

 in dense flocks, succeeding each other without interruption 

 or intermission, and numbering from a hundred to a 

 thousand head. These flocks, it is averred on the best 

 authority, proceeding from Labrador to Northern Brazil, 

 meet nowhere with any resting-place in the course of 

 their long migratory flight across the ocean, and are 

 consequently obliged to perform this long stretch of 3,200 

 miles without a stoppage. They thus accomplish double 

 the distance of 1,600 miles from Newfoundland to Ireland, 

 and, consequently, remove every doubt as regards the 

 possibility of the latter achievement. 



It will perhaps occur to the reader that it is possible 

 some of these bird r would become exhausted before reach- 

 ing land, and thus perish. It is known, however, that 

 such land-birds as thrushes, buntings, finches, and the like 

 are able, in case of exhaustion, to take rest for a short time 

 on the surface of the water — even if the waves are bois- 

 terous — and are able afterwards to continue their journey. 

 The ways and means provided by Nature are inex- 

 haustible, and, despite the minutest and most unflagging 

 energy of the observer, there are doubtless channels, at 

 present unknown to mankind, through which many species 

 of birds — the destination of which is not at present 

 known — find their way to their natural haunts. Such 

 birds as the cuckoo, bird of paradise, &c, have in all ages 

 been of remarkable interest to those who devote their 

 lives to ' ' find out God in the natural world." 



The destination of migratory birds has always been a 



