i8o THE HOME OF A BIRD 



path of their migration passing through this country ; 

 but when spring returns they depart to their 

 continental homes. It might seem reasonable to 

 expect that birds that came to us in the hard season, 

 would remain to nest with us during the season of 

 plenty, especially since birds of these same species 

 once nested here habitually ; but such is not the 

 case. Those birds that nested here were British 

 birds ; their country was here ; they were extirpated 

 from it. Although the continental birds that winter 

 with us are in no way specifically distinguishable 

 from them, they, too, have their country, but it is 

 not here. They have their homes elsewhere, and 

 with returning spring return to fill them. But the 

 homes of the British forms are desolate ; no birds 

 will come to them again. 



