THE BOOK OF MIGRATORY BIRDS 63 



are able, in case of exhaustion, to take rest for a short time 

 on the surface of the water even if the waves are bois- 

 terous and are able afterwards to continue their journey. 

 The ways and means provided by Nature are in- 

 exhaustible, and, despite the minutest and most unflagging 

 energy of the observer, there are doubtless channels, at 

 present unknown to mankind, through which many species 

 of birds the destination of which is not at present known 

 find their way to their natural haunts. Such birds as 

 the cuckoo, bird of paradise, &c., have in all ages been of 

 remarkable interest to those who devote their lives to "find 

 out God in the natural world." 



The destination of migratory birds has always been a 

 subject of much interest to naturalists, and with a view to 

 obtaining definite information upon the subject a large 

 number of these birds were captured some two years ago 

 by naturalists in Prussia, and a light metal ring, bearing 

 a number and the date, was fastened to one foot of the 

 bird, which was then set at liberty. 



One of these birds a lake fowl, bearing the date of July 

 26, 1907 was shot in El Bahira, Tunis, and a stork, dated 

 July 5, 1907, was killed at Fort Jameson, Rhodesia, far 

 beyond the Equator. It has long been known that the 

 house stork winters in great numbers in Egypt, and that 

 they have often been seen in Central Africa and German 

 East Africa; but it is quite a new discovery that they 

 should fly so far as from North Germany to South Africa. 



Another authority says : 



" In the feathered world migration plays a most 

 important part in the life of each little songster of wood 

 and field. We know the why and the wherefore of the 

 autumn or southern flight ; it is entirely a matter of food 

 supply. As for the northern or spring flight we can 

 assume no logical reason. Why the birds should desert 

 a land of plenty and attempt a journey often thousands of 

 miles in extent, often reaching their summer homes before 

 the snow and ice of winter have released their hold on 



