6 BIRDS OF FIELD, FOREST AND PARK 



Swallows, etc., the journey Is rapid and direct 

 and occupies but a few days, even though the 

 distance covered is long. For those birds, also, 

 that winter in the near-by south the journey, 

 though made leisurely, occupies but a few days. 

 In marked contrast to these are the movements 

 of those far travelers, whose journeylngs are 

 little short of marvelous. The Bobolink winters 

 in central Brazil, and the routes to and from the 

 winter home, especially of those that breed in 

 our Western States, are very Indirect. They 

 travel leisurely through the Southern States 

 where as Reedbirds and later as RIcebirds they 

 are considered fair game for the hunter, because 

 of their fat, plump bodies. Leaving the con- 

 fines of the United States by the way of Florida, 

 they fly across the ninety miles of sea to Cuba, 

 proceed along that island, thence to the Leeward 

 and Windward Islands by easy flight, finally 

 reaching the shore of South America, whence 

 the remaining distance to their winter haunts In 

 central Brazil is leisurely made. Despite the 

 long distance traveled, their goings and comings 

 are made with great regularity and we can pre- 

 dict with much certainty when they will arrive 

 in early May. Mr. Chapman points out that 

 Bobolinks were formerly found In summer only 

 in our Eastern States, but they have gradually 

 moved west until now they are found beyond 

 the Mississippi, even as far as the Rocky Moun- 

 tains. And yet when the migration begins In the 

 fall, these western dwellers travel eastward to 

 join their brethren for the long journey, not- 

 withstanding that their winter home could be 



