J. E. LITTlEBOr — THE MIGEATION OF BIRDS. 31 



ordinary summer crop, and the extravagant abundance of insect- 

 lifo with whicli tlie prairies of Xortliern Europe ahsolutelj' teem, 

 has heen described as follows : * — " Seed or fruit-eating birds find 

 an immediate and abundant supply of cranberries and other fruit 

 which have remained frozen during the long winter and are accessible 

 the moment the snow has melted, while insect-eating birds have only 

 to open their mouths to fill them with mosquitoes." Here, too, 

 are to be found accommodation for nesting and facilities for in- 

 cubation with wliich the most fastidious of migrants might well be 

 satisfied. The undulating tundra, with its lakes, its sand-hills, its 

 stunted bushes, and its thick herbage, offers an enticing home to 

 the myriads of small waders that frequent it. Curlews, sandpipers, 

 stints, phalaropes, and plovers here find an undisturbed breecling- 

 ground. The peregrine falcon, with birds of kindred feather, builds 

 its eyrie on the bleak promontories that frown over the Arctic Ocean. 

 Woods, which the hand of man never thins, afford a welcome 

 retreat to birds which frequent woodland districts, and the climate 

 during summer is most congenial. It is true that a description 

 such as this is not strictly applicable to our English counties 

 or to many of the northern regions to which migrants resort for 

 the purpose of incubation, but I believe that it will be found to 

 be more or less representative of all, and as such, with your per- 

 mission, I propose to accept it. Thirdly, there is another phase of 

 the subject which is equally striking. The peculiar characteristics 

 which distinguish birds at the period of their northern migration 

 cannot be overlooked. They are then in the full vigour of health 

 and life ; what is called the instinct of procreation f is upon them. 

 They are in full song and in brilliant plumage. They pair, they 

 breed, they rear their offspring with a care and affection that might 

 well teach a lesson to humanity, and they appear absolutely to 

 revel in the joy and abundance which everywhere surrounds them. 



I will re-state the argument in as few words as possible. I 

 have attempted to define the essential conditions which the term 

 " Natural Home " seems to imply. I have referred to Dr. Weiss- 

 mann's argument in favour of southern climes. I have next pointed 

 out the important fact that birds always breed at the northern 

 limit of their migration. I have endeavoured to show that these 

 northern latitudes supply with profuse abundance all the necessities 

 of bii'd-life, and that the period of their residence in these quarters 

 is the best and most important epoch in their existence. And what 

 is the inference, I think it might well be said the only reasonable 

 inference, which is deducible from these facts ? I do not hesitate to 

 answer the inquiry in the following words : — "That the summer 

 or northern resort of a migrant is, and always has been, during 

 the historic period, its ' Natural Home.' " 



I shall assume that it is so, and shall next attempt to show that 

 an intense love for the regions thus designated is engrafted into the 

 nature of migrants. Those who are interested in country pursuits 



* ' Siberia,' p. 296. 



t ' Scribuer's Magazine,' vol. xxii, p. 933. 



