86 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



Human beings, who are able, often go south to escape the inconveniences 

 of winter weather, but they do not go south during the summer months be- 

 cause those used to a temperate clime, suffer intensely from the heat of a 

 southern sun. There is a certain season of the year, it is said, when par- 

 tridges go crazy. It seems to be a temporary madness which incites them 

 to fly miles away, in no particular direction and to no particular place. What 

 the cause is, I do not know, but it has at least one good effect which is easily 

 seen; it breaks up families. Were it not for this temporary insanity, these 

 birds would remain, year after year, in the same locality, and thus become 

 exposed to the danger of interbreeding, which would be fatal to their kind. 



The annual migration of other birds has naturally the same effect. Flocks 

 of birds, such as the Robin, which have congregated in one locality ready to 

 migrate, are* j oined by others from other localities. As the flocks mingle, 

 members of the same brood become separated. It is my belief that the an- 

 nual migration of birds is governed by several reasons. I do not see how it 

 could be due to one cause alone, as food supply, for instance. The theories 

 presented by different authorities, in my opinion, are all equally plausible, 

 but are not sufficient. to meet every case. 



My conclusion is, then, that the migration of birds is governed, not by one 

 but by several reasons, viz. — the desire for seclusion during the period of re- 

 production; the supply of food; climatic conditions, and the necessity of the 

 breaking up of families. 



[I doubt if any well versed writer upon the subject intentionally claims that 

 bird migration is due to one cause alone, but there is no doubt but what the 

 most vital reasons are food supply and instinct (that word which is so often 

 used by scientists to explain that which they do not know). All birds do, in- 

 stinctively, most of the things that their parents did. A Blue Jay, raised 

 from the egg, although it may learn any number of notes, will, in times of 

 excitement, fall back upon the old jay calls, although he never before heard 

 them. A Ruffed Grouse, raised from the egg, will strut and drum, during 

 the proper season, the same as his parents did. A bird whose ancestors mi- 

 grated will always migrate from instinct as well as because of a coming 

 shortage in food supply. An all-wise Providence created birds for beauty, 

 song and utility, and probably instilled into the breast of each species; the 

 instinct to migrate or not to migrate, whichever was best suited to the needs 

 of the locality it inhabited. There is an abundance of food in the north for 

 such birds as remain, such as insect larvae and eggs, seeds and dried berries. 

 It is only when trees are covered with an icy coat or the snow with a hard 

 crust, that our winter birds experience any real hardships. There is not, 

 however, sufficient food in winter to warrant other species in staying here, 

 even provided that they had the bill required to secure food in our winters. 



