A BIRDLOVER'S YEAR 



The probable reason for this is that night is 

 not a feeding-time with the birds ; whereas, 

 if they were to migrate by day, a fast of 

 over twenty-four hours would be entailed. 

 Again, there is a little bird (a particular 

 form of blue-throat) which yearly repairs 

 from its winter home in Egypt and the 

 valley of the Nile to the northern parts of 

 Scandinavia, scarcely halting, it is said, south 

 of Heligoland during this great journey. 



A Russian naturalist, Dr. von Middendorf, 

 is of the opinion that a migrating bird is 

 aware of the northerly direction, and is 

 accordingly able to steer its course ; but 

 this theory is by no means accepted by 

 other equally competent observers. Professor 

 Mobius put forward the hypothesis that 

 birds performing long migrations over the 

 sea might be guided by observing the roll 

 of the waves. A curious point is that among 

 the swallows, for instance, the young start 

 on migration before the older birds, and 

 in many other species the young and old 

 journey apart. The former, therefore, 

 are not guided by experience, yet they 

 arrive safely at their destination. Doubtless 

 many birds do perish in migration ; but 

 H 113 



