A HERMIT'S WILD FRIENDS 



must be familiar with all the landmarks, may 

 make the journey without the aid of a super- 

 natural power. 



We must remember that the sense of sight 

 in birds is developed to a degree unknown 

 to mankind. It often happens that I startle 

 a ruffed grouse from its perch in the night. 

 In such case it hurls itself through the shrub- 

 bery with amazing speed. When I think of 

 the keenness of sight that enables this bird 

 to avoid twigs and limbs, I know that my 

 sight is nothing but blindness in comparison. 



Some birds fly high, and the earth is like 

 a map beneath them, with a well-defined line 

 between land and water. Birds that are 

 familiar with the route ought to experience 

 no difficulty in finding the way. Even the 

 limited sight of man would serve unless handi- 

 capped by a dark, stormy night. 



Young birds left to themselves will not 

 go South. Young robins often get left in 

 this vicinity. They are birds of the last 

 brood usually ; the parent birds are killed 

 before the young learn to associate with the 

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