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 annuar 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 



