MARTINS. 269 



sailing over the vineyards and olive gardens of France 

 and Spain. But this is not their destination, and still 

 with heads pointed to the south they fly on. Now the 

 broad Mediterranean appears in sight ; but this is not 

 their winter home, and the birds must cross the ocean 

 once more. By resistless impulse driven, over they fly, 

 the weakly ones falling, to perish. And now the distant 

 shores of Africa are in sight ; at last their haven of 

 safety is reached, and the birds, exhausted after their 

 long pilgrimage, find here food in abundance, and a 

 genial climate in which to bask until the sun in his 

 northern journey sends them again to our country as 

 heralds of the glorious spring. 



