AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY 



87 



Likewise it would not do for our birds to remain in the south instead of 

 returning at the proper time, for the north would have an insect scourge, 

 while the south would be overrun with birds, for those from the Antarctic 

 regions would be pouring in to escape their winter. I think that the temper- 

 ature is the least important factor in the migratory movement, as far as 

 the ability of the birds to stand it is concerned. Southern Chickadees are 

 just as heavily plumaged as are the northern Hudsonian variety. The Laugh- 

 ing Gull, that does not come north of Massachusetts in the summer, is just 

 as heavily clothed as is Ross Gull which is not found south of the Arctic 

 Circle even in winter. Our Black-capped Chickadee sings just as cheerily 

 on a bright winter day, with the thermometer registering ten or more de- 

 grees less than nothing as he does in temperate heat, or when it is above the 

 hundred mark in summer. 



The migration scheme, as it exists, is a perfect one; the bird life normallv 

 will balance the insect life. Man must not destroy this balance; even if we 

 cannot see wherein a certain species is economically valuable, that is insuffi- 

 cient excuse" for exterminating it. 



I have never heard the saying about partridges going crazy at certain 

 seasons, but we remember the story of Mr. Ernest Seton Thompson as to 

 "Why the Chickadee Goes Crazy." I think probably the partridge story 

 has a similar origin; there may be "crazy" birds in some parts of the country, 

 but a long acquaintance with grouse, or "partridge," and Chickadees war- 

 rants me in saying that we have level-headed ones in Massachusetts. Ed.~\ 



Photo by R. H. Beebe. 



Young Catbird. 



