On the Migration of North American Birds. 



Terara.) is another of our visitors. It bears so strong a resemblance 

 to an Asiatic species, (Falco melanopterus , Daud.) that, although 

 it is described under another name, I have never been able to detect 

 the slightest difference. It is occasionally met with as early as the 

 beginning of February and breeds on a few of our islands along our 

 sea-board. This species it has hitherto been supposed never mi- 

 grated north of Florida. When the Gannets, (Sula bassana* Lacep.) 

 leave us for their northern rocks, we are visited by the two species 

 of Pelicans, (Pelicanus onocrotahis, and P.fuscus, L.) and by im- 

 mense flocks of the wood Ibis, (Tantalus Loculator, L.) The lat- 

 ter commence regular systematic attacks upon our rice fields and 

 on the fish in our ponds, first muddying the water and then killing 

 ten times as many as they can consume, leaving a rich repast for the 

 alligator. As strange as it may appear in birds so large and numer- 

 ous, their nests have never been found. No sooner do the Virginia 

 Rail, (Rallus Virginianus, L.) and the Sora leave us, than their 

 place is supplied by two species of kindred genera, the purple and 

 common Gallinules, (Gallinula martinica, Gmel. G. Chloropus, 

 Lath.) The latter is found breeding in nearly all the back waters 

 of our rice fields ; the former is seen but sparingly, and the large 

 family of northern finches is succeeded by several interesting species, 

 among the most beautiful of which are the Nonpareil, or painted 

 Bunting and the blue Grosbeak. Thus by a wise benevolent provi- 

 sion of providence, the varying seasons bring along with them a sue- 

 cession of the feathered tribe, that either contribute to our suste- 

 nance or minister to our pleasures. 



Whilst some of our northern birds make Carolina their southern 

 limit in the winter, there are others that make it their northern boun- 

 dary, beyond which they dare not go at that season. Thus the Cat 

 bird, (Turdus Felivox,) the white eyed flycatcher, (Muscicapa Can- 

 tabris,) the green Swallow, (Hirundo bicolor,) and several other 

 species appear among us in small numbers after one or two warm 

 days in winter. A few of these linger along our sea-board in shel- 

 tered situations during the winter, and they are found in great abun- 

 dance through the whole of that season in Florida and Mexico. 

 The whole crane and heron family, (the latter composed of twelve 

 American species,) all spend their winters south of Carolina, with 

 the exception of a few stragglers, from among the great blue heron, a 

 very small number of the white heron, and a few of the youno- of the 



