168 NEWS FROM THE BIRDS. 



ing that their minds were literally teaming 

 with interrogation ♦points. I had my hands 

 full, I assure you, answering all their sharp 

 inquiries. Get a boy started, and he can ask 

 more questions than the astutest ornitholo- 

 gist can answer, let alone one who makes no 

 pretensions to great wisdom. One of the first 

 questions was, "Why do the migrants fly at 

 night ? " 



" A very pertinent question," I replied. 

 " Let us see whether you yourselves can not 

 think of some of the reasons. Put on your 

 study caps." 



Up went several hands, and the following 

 were the answers elicited : The heat is not so 

 intense at nio-ht ; there is not so much dsuvj'er 

 from hawks and gunners ; by traveling at 

 night the birds can feed during the day ; there 

 is no temptation to loiter by the way when 

 they can not see the country below them. 



" Do all birds perform their migratory jour- 

 neys at night ? " was the substance of one 

 boy's question. " No," was the reply. " Tlie 

 water birds fly during the day as well. You 

 have often seen a flock of wild geese or ducks 

 overhead." 



" How far north do the birds go for the 

 summer ? " 



