MIGRATION. 289 
whose remarks on the general subject of migration | 
subsequent writers have done little more than re- 
peat, says, “though the secret ways by which in- 
stinct guides birds and other irrational creatures are 
little known to us, yet the causes of some of their 
actions are apparent. Analogous to the lucrative 
searches of man-through distant regions, birds take 
distant flights in quest of food, or what else is agree- 
able to their nature; and, when they discover some 
new grain or pleasing food, they return, and acquaint 
their community therewith, and, joining in numer- 
ous flights, make annual excursions to solace in 
this their exotic food. Since the discovery of 
America, there have been introduced from Europe 
several sorts of grain which were never before 
known in that part of the world, and which, not 
before some length of time, were found out and 
coveted by these migratory birds. No wonder this 
grain should not be immediately known to birds of 
distant regions; for above half a century passed 
from the time of cultivating wheat, rice, and barley 
in Virginia and Carolina, before those grains were . 
found out and frequented by those foreign birds, of 
which one has but lately made its appearance in 
Virginia, as my ingenious friend, Dr. Mitchel, in- 
forms me that he, being in his garden, a bird flew 
over his head, which appeared with uncommon lus- 
tre, and surprised him the more, not having seen 
the like kind before. Mentioning this to some of 
his neighbours, he was told by them, what afterward 
was confirmed to him by his own observation, that 
these exotic birds had but within these few years 
appeared in Virginia, and had never been observed 
there before. They arrive annually at the time that 
wheat (the fields of which they most frequent) is 
at a certain degree of maturity, and have constant- 
ly, every year from their first appearance, arrived 
about the same time in numerous flights. They 
have attained the name of wheatbirds.” Catesby 
~] ’ B B 
