TEE DONA-FANGST. 215 



with perhaps a single exception, always journey during the 

 night-time. Their strdck-tag, or line of flight, lies for the 

 most part over wooded districts. Large open plains, 

 destitute of trees, they always avoid, unless these be so 

 very extensive, that by not following them they would 

 be led too much out of their proper course. The localities 

 where the migratory birds temporarily alight, and remain 

 for a longer or shorter period, cannot with certainty he 

 pointed out. They always stop during the daytime at 

 the spot over which they find themselves when morning 

 dawns. The length of time they remain at each of these 

 their resting-places, depends on the supply of food. If 

 they find but little, they stracka further so soon as 

 night closes in. Should some fine and warm days occur, 

 they stop awhile in the district where they alighted ; but 

 if the night be misty, one may be assured their flight will 

 be renewed at once. Should the afternoon prove rainy, 

 of which their instinct will have forewarned them, it is 

 certain that those which arrived in the morning have 

 flocked, and will remain, because birds never stracka on 

 the approach of wet weather. When it is calm, they 

 are generally stationary, but when a westerly or south- 

 westerly storm arises, one may be sure that stracknitiy 

 is immediately resumed, and that in good earnest. 



"Although these observations respecting the migra- 

 tory flights of birds," Ekstrom goes on to say, "especially 

 such as point out the days on which particular attention 

 ought to be paid to the ' Donor,' may not be without 

 benefit to the fowler, it will be of much greater moment 

 to him to know, and be able to select, the localities where 

 his operations can be carried on to the greatest advantage. 

 Large woods are not adapted to the purpose, because 

 the birds, are there more scattered ; unless, indeed, it 

 happens that the woods are bounded or intersected by some 

 broad sheet of water, stretching east and west ; for when 



