102 RAMBLES ABOUT HOME. 



act in man ; and these acts in birds and men, producing 

 allied results, indicate that close connection between all 

 animal life which is so readily comprehended from an 

 evolutionary stand-point. Now, as an instance of this 

 " foretelling " power in birds, I noted, during the spring 

 of 1874, the arrival of the first chewink or towhee bunt- 

 ing on the 27th of April. Busily it hopped among the 

 dried leaves and tangled briers, enlivening the thicket 

 with its constant song, just as a dozen of its kind had 

 done throughout the preceding summer. In a few days 

 it had disappeared, and not a chewink has been seen or 

 heard for nearly six months. Late in October a few were 

 noticed on their way south from the country north of us. 

 This locality is one where these birds usually congregate, 

 and I have often found a dozen nests within its limits. 

 But, a few miles away, these birds were as abundant as 

 usual. In two ways I can explain the absence of these 

 birds: either those that were accustomed to occupy it 

 went to a new locality, and the single bird that had pre- 

 ceded them, finding his companions did not come, left, 

 rather than remain alone ; or he left to announce that 

 food would be scarce for it must be remembered, as 

 Darwin has remarked, " most animals and plants keep to 

 their proper homes, and do not needlessly wander about, 

 as is seen even with migratory birds, which almost always 

 return to the same spot." At any rate, the summer of 

 1874, in this neighborhood, was the driest in the past 

 fifty years, and it seemed as if the chewink knew what 

 was coming. So, at least, I believe. During that sum- 

 mer I noted the nearly entire absence of several species 

 which are common, as a rule, and a very marked decrease 

 in the numbers of those that did appear ; but, at the same 

 time, my note-books mention the arrival of one or more 

 individuals of every one of our migratory birds. Many, 



