OUR RARER BIRDS 



scream or warbling cry has told me that the feathered hosts 

 were still passing on. Some of our inland districts are 

 evidently in the direct line of flight of many migratory birds. 

 Flocks of Goldcrests or Song Thrushes, for mstance, often 

 make their appearance in certain woods or fields every season, 

 stay a few days, and then as rapidly disappear. There is 

 much evidence to show^ that the mountain ranges which 

 form the backbone of England and Wales are the great " fly- 

 line" of many migratory birds; and I am of opinion that 

 birds are guided to a great extent in their journeys to and 

 fro by lofty ranges of hills. 



A word as to the destination of these migratory birds. 

 By far the greater number that pass either along our 

 coasts or from our islands every autumn are on their way to 

 Africa. This sultry continent is the grand winter-home of 

 most of the migratory birds of Europe ; but some few species 

 only get as far south as the northern shores of the Mediter- 

 ranean. Singularly enough those birds that go the farthest 

 north in spring retire the farthest south in winter, and this 

 applies equally to individuals as to species. Birds also must 

 have wonderful powers of judging time, for rarely do we see 

 them back as^ain in their accustomed haunts before the usual 

 period of their appearance has arrived. Should they chance 

 to come too early and find their usual food scarce, they 

 generally wander south again. The migration of birds is 

 beset with many perils. Of the millions of birds that leave us 

 in autumn but a small percentage survive the dangers of the 

 two long journeys and appear again in spring. The greatest 

 mortality is among the young and inexperienced. Thousands 

 perish at sea — too tired to fly across the waste of waters that 

 separates them from land ; thousands are devoured by the 

 hungry Hawks that follow in the wake of the great migrating 

 army. Many perish from want of food ; others fall victims 

 to various predatory creatures as soon as they reach land 



