MANNER OF MIGRATION. 57 



Observations of tins kind should be made in Septem- 

 ber, ^vhen the fall migration is at its height. On the 

 night of September 3, 1887, at Tenafly, New Jersey, a 

 friend and myself, using a six-and-a-half -inch equatorial 

 glass, saw no less than two hundred and sixty-two birds 

 cross the narrow angle subtended by the limbs of the 

 moon between the hours of eight and eleven. Observa- 

 tions made several years later, in September, from the 

 observatory of Columbia University, yielded closely simi- 

 lar results. 



This nocturnal journey of birds may also be studied 

 from lighthouses. On September 26, 1891, I visited the 

 Bartholdi Statue of the Goddess of Liberty, in New York 

 Bay, for this purpose. The weather was most favorable. 

 The first bird was observed at eight o'clock, and for 

 the succeeding two hours others were constantly heard, 

 though comparatively few were seen. At ten o'clock it 

 began to rain ; and almost simultaneously there was a 

 marked increase in the number of birds about the light, 

 and within a few minutes there were hundreds where 

 before there was one, while the air was filled with the 

 calls of the passing host. 



From the balcony Avhich encircles the torch the scene 

 was impressive beyond description. We seemed to have 

 torn aside the veil which shrouds the mysteries of the 

 night, and with the searching light exposed the secrets 

 of Nature. 



By far the larger number of birds hurried onward ; 

 others hovered before us, like Hummingl)irds before a 

 flower, then flew SAviftly by into the darkness ; and some, 

 apparently blinded by the brilliant rays, struck the statue 

 slightly, or with sufiicient force to cause them to fall dead 

 or dying. At daybreak a few stragglers were still ^ving- 

 ing their way southward, but before the sun rose the 

 flight was over. 

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