MIGRATION AND FLIGHT. 87 



this sort for every Swallow, and Martin, and Swift in 

 Europe? When the Redwing and Fieldfare quit this 

 country, it often abounds with that food which they 

 prefer to any other, and at the time of their departure 

 they are in the finest condition. Again, the younger 

 birds, in many cases, do not depart at the same time; 

 and when they do, it has been ascertained that they 

 frequently do not go so far as the old ones. Other 

 birds, again, which in some places are constantly to be 

 found, will in others disappear for a certain time, and 

 then return without any discoverable cause. Thus, the 

 Kingfisher, which in the northern part of England may 

 be seen all the year round, on some parts of the southern 

 ^coasts only makes its appearance in October in consi- 

 derable numbers, and as regularly departs in the follow- 

 ing spring. Few would suspect our constant and lively 

 companions, the Jays and Chaffinches, to be at times 

 travellers, but so it is; there is proof of the fact. 



Some gentlemen near Tunstall, in Suffolk, who were 

 <s>ut shooting, about five miles from the sea, observed an 

 extraordinary flight of Jays passing in a single line from 

 seaward towards the interior. The line extended further 

 than the eye could reach, and must have consisted of 

 some thousands; there could be no doubt of there being- 

 Jays, as several were killed as they passed. But the 

 noise of the guns did not occasion the rest to deviate 

 from their line of flight: these birds, to all appearance, 

 were then coming from the Continent. We have before 

 noticed the occasional wandering tendency of that 

 steadiest of all birds, the barn-door Goose; in fact all 

 birds seem either at certain seasons, or under certain 

 circumstances, to be seized with travelling propensities, 

 which they cannot resist. If any of our regularly 

 migratory birds are kept in an aviary or cage, when the 

 usual time arrives for the departure of the rest of their 

 species, these prisoners, without having any communica- 

 tion with their companions, will nevertheless manifest 

 great uneasiness, and often die if detained. We hare 



