96 MIGRATION AND FLIGHT. 



light-house, having been killed, maimed, or stupefied, by 

 flying against the dome of that brilliant light. 



It has been observed that the time of departure of 

 certain birds is by no means so exact as that of their 

 arrival; which may be accounted for by a natural disin- 

 clination on the part of the old ones to desert the nests 

 of young ones, still requiring their care. But even this 

 most powerful of all instincts, the attachment of a parent 

 to its young, is not in all cases strong enough to conquer 

 the still stronger impulse for migration; for Swallows 

 will actually desert their nests, and leave helpless little 

 ones to perish by hunger, rather than remain long after 

 their companions. A pair of Martins which had de- 

 serted their family in the autumn, on returning in the 

 spring, were observed to draw out the dead bodies of 

 three nearly full-fledged nestlings. Another pair acted in 

 a different manner; after vainly endeavouring to drag out 

 the bodies, which had most probably formed a dried 

 mass with the wool and feathers in the interior, they 

 entirely closed up the opening of the nest with clay, 

 and leaving them thus entombed, proceeded to build 

 another nursery. 



As much interest and amusement may be derived from 

 watching and expecting the arrival and departure of our 

 migratory birds, we annex a list of a few of the most 

 common, with the earliest and latest dates which have 

 come under our observation. 



Date of Date of 



appearance, departure. 



Sand Martin Hirundo riparia March 27. Sept. 21 



Chimney Swallow . .Hirundo rustica April 11. Oct. 20. 



Martin Hirundo urbica March 20. Oct. 20. 



Swift Hirundo apus April 27. Sept. 15. 



Kedstart Motacilla phoenicurus . .April 6. Sept. 5. 



Whitethroat Motacilla sylvia April 6. Sept. 8. 



Cuckoo Cuculus canorus April 10. June 30. 



Redwing Turdus iliacus ., Sept. 26. Aprils. 



Fieldfare Turdus pilaris Sept. 29. May 1. 



Woodcock Scolopax rusticola Oct. 15. April 2. 



