The Oologist. 



MIGRATION 



The P"'all migration is now with us. The wonderful instinct that causes tlie 

 !irds to wander back and forth over the lengths of tlie continent semi-annually 

 has been the wonder and the admiration of the ages. From the mightiest to the 

 tiniest, nearly all birds, save a few resident species, move Spring and Fall across 

 ]nany or few degrees of latitude; some ranging all the way from the Arctic 

 shores to Patagonia; others wandering over comparatively short distances. 

 Some traveling at such immense altitudes as to be scarcely discernable; otheis 

 being almost terrestrial in their movements. 



The roll of the Crane and of the Swan coming from the sky at such altitude 

 that the bird responsible for it frequently cannot be seen with the naked eye. 

 The little Rail travelling much of its distance skulking on foot amid the vege- 

 tation of the earth's surface. Some making the prolonged flight from the shores 

 of Nova Scotia to the shores of South America without a single halt; others 

 Hitting from tree to tree and bush to bush, but always in the same direction. 



Little, comparatively is known in regard to the migration of the birds, 

 though very much has been written. Such observations as are presented in 

 P. G. Howes' contribution to this month's Oologist will do much to elucidate and 

 make plain that which is now more or less evolved in mystery. No ornithologi- 

 cal publication publishes a higher class of scientific papers than that presented 

 by Mr. Howes m this issue, and we wish to thank him for the contribution. 



Editor. 



