VIEWS ON MIGRATION. 25 



even from high-lands to plains only, yet the move- 

 ment is a marked and regular one, and dees not 

 differ in kind from those extended flights of thou- 

 sands of miles which other species habitually under- 

 take. On the other hand, birds are excessively 

 attached to their home, to the land of their birth- 

 place and their love. Witness the fact of so many 

 species (the Redwing, Turdus iliacus, and the Field- 

 fare, Turdiis pilaris^ are good instances) quitting 

 their winter quarters in spring to return to their 

 old home, although their young, so far as we can 

 determine, could be just as successfully reared in our 

 islands. Other interesting instances might be taken 

 from the Waders, the Ducks, the Gulls, and Terns. 

 Instinct, again, is described as infallible. Migrat- 

 ing birds go and come with unerring certainty ; 

 they know their way by inherited impulse, and 

 never fail to reach their destinations. But such is 

 not the case. Birds blunder like human folk, lose 

 their way, and perish in uncounted hosts, as we 

 shall learn anon. The Homing Pigeon has been 

 frequently brought forward in support of the 

 inherited instinctive sense of direction possessed by 

 birds in general. But this bird, wonderful as its 

 performances of speed, distance, and endurance 

 really are, has to be long and carefully trained for 

 each successive stage of its prolonged journey 

 before it can be safely entrusted to undertake it. 

 During this training it gradually learns the various 

 landmarks on the road, just as any human traveller 

 might do ; and if called upon to make the journey, 



