142 NEWS FROM THE BIRDS. 



Many species travel by night. Why is 

 this ? I can merely suggest as a possible rear 

 son that at night the weather is cooler than by 

 day, and there is less to distract the birds' 

 attention from their travels, and hence less 

 temptation to stop by the way. The noc- 

 turnal flight of the migrating hosts may be 

 proved in two ways : First, go out at night in 

 the spring or autumn and you will hear the 

 chirping of the feathered voyagers overhead 

 as they pass in loose flocks ; second, if you 

 take a tramj) to the flelds and woods early on 

 a spring morning you will find numerous spe- 

 cies that CO aid not be seen at all on the pre- 

 vious day. Besides, those who have charge 

 of lighthouses often find that many birds dash 

 against tliem, often with fatal effect, on foggy 

 and stormy nights. 



Do you ask if they make their long jour- 

 neys by a continuous fliglit ? No, they do not ; 

 most species go by stages. As the warm 

 weather comes on at their southern winter 

 home, they leave for a more northern latitude, 

 perhaps a night's flight away ; here they may 

 spend a few days or a week, enjoying the 

 pleasant weather and feeding on the numerous 

 insects lured out of their winter quarters by 

 the warm sunshine. By and by the birds will 



