Far ott, always in the hij^liot iilact-s. lioats to mc the iin <--;iiit zee, zee, /ee, 

 zee, zee, zee, zee, of the tireIes^ black-throated warbler, the sixth zee falling' lower 

 than the rest, like a dropped stitch, and save for hini, and my musical i>erformer, 

 the woods are quiet, for this is the mid-day siesta. 



I'.irlv morning and earlv Mav— that is the time for the lover of birds. 



Night-Flying Birds 



"It is difficult to believe that at times during the season of migrati(jn the sky 

 at night is filled with birds from dusk until dawn. If they see the earth below, it 

 must be too dim to guide them on their journey. Still they find their way just 

 as surely as do those birds which travel by day. 



"The day fliers are hardy rovers which are used to the open, and do not 

 hesitate to venture far from cover. But the night fliers are the shy, retiring birds 

 of thickets and undergrowth which rarely go far from their own door-step. Or, 

 if they live in trees, their flight is usually only from tree to tree. The thrushes, 

 warblers, vireos, and small flycatchers are all night fliers. 



"For several reasons, we know more about the travels of the night fliers 

 than we do about those of the day fliers. First, because many more birds travel 

 by night than by day. Second, because practically all birds that fly by night are 

 real migrants. Third, because the night fliers seem unable to avoid the light- 

 houses in their way, and the number killed by striking these beacons erected for 

 man's safety has given us a vast amount of information concerning the birds 

 that travel after dark. 



"By night as well as by day our ears can tell us much about the number of 

 birds that are passing overhead. Indeed, during nights when many birds are 

 flying, we can, from favorable places, such as high hilltops or cities in the birds' 

 highway, hear their call-notes almost constantly. The hill brings us nearer the 

 birds, and the city lights bring the birds nearer to us. Light seems to attract them 

 as it does moths. 



"An ornithologist at Madison. Wisconsin, states that on the night of Septem- 

 ber 14, 1906, no less than 3.800 bird-calls were heard from one place. The aver- 

 age was twelve calls for each minute, but at times so many calls were heard that 

 it was evident the air above was thronged with birds." — Frank M. Chapman. 



783 



