Introduction: Migration. ^^ 



During our studies it has become abundantly evident to us that ornithologists 

 are not generally aware that migration goes on in the East Indies to the great 

 extent it does. Naturalists travelling in the Archipelago have rarely had a 

 word to say on this subject, for the reason that they themselves are continually 

 on the move from place to place and are consequently unable to say whether 

 the birds they see are visitors or stationary. Among the residents or travellers 

 of longer standing it would be difficult to mention the names of more than 

 two or three competent observers; of these Mr. Everett has us yet published 

 nothing on migration to our knowledge beyond a few terse notes on individual 

 species, but there are a number of interesting observations extant from the pen 

 of Mr. Whitehead. We quote from this gentleman the following passages 

 relating to the S. E. parts of Palawan: "When the great rush of birds from 

 the far north takes place these plains have a much more lively aspect; hun- 

 dreds of Wagtails, Pipits, Snijies, and other small Waders are continually flying 

 up on your approach . . . Towards the middle of September, after we had 

 collected all the resident species within our reach, the sea-coast, with its rockv 

 points and estuaries, was by far the most attractive hunting-ground; for about 

 that time the great winter migration from the north reaches the coasts and 

 forests of Palawan. Most Waders passed between 5 and 6. P. M., all in one 

 direction, S.W. ; if a small flock settled and was disturbed, never did the birds 

 return, but still hurried on their southward course. By continuing this line of 

 flight they would touch Balabac, and then turn due south down to the coast of 

 Borneo, where some remain for the winter, but most seem to travel further still. 

 When the wind was blowing gales from the S.W., bringing up heavy clouds 

 loaded with rain, then was the liveliest time for moving; on calm, or even 

 moderate days, it was seldom worth while to visit the coast. All these great 

 travellers were as fat as butter, and in no state for a bird-collector" (Ibis 1890 

 p. 40). Out of a total of 157 species in Palawan 49 are migrants. 



Birds at sea. — Nearly all naturalists when at sea in these regions have 

 been visited by birds of migratory species for a temporary rest on board ship. 

 When sailing ships were common this was possibly a more usual occurrence 

 than in these days of steamers. The following passage from F. J. F. Meyen's 

 ''Reise um die Erde", 1835 II, 195, is of interest. When crossing the China 

 Sea between Macao, Canton River, and Manila, "besides the ordinary sea-birds 

 a number of various small land-birds were seen, which, as we quickly per- 

 ceived, were migrating and resting upon our ship. We obtained on this occasion 

 the Laniiis phoenicurus (Pall.) (= L. lucionensis), the Hirundo domestica Pall, and 

 the Motacilla Jfava, all of them birds which spend the summer months in Southern 

 Siberia . . . As it appeared all these birds were directing their course towards 

 the Moluccas; the Swallows came along in such numbers that we caught eight 

 of them in the evening. One day the head of a palm-tree drifted by our ship . . . 

 Large birds were resting on this swimming island as it came towards us, and 



