CHAPTER XII. 



THE THIRD OF MAY. 



IT is the 3d of May and we are just in the thickest of the 

 spring migration of our birds. Considered in all its rela- 

 tions, this regular movement of the birds is one of the 

 most wonderful facts in nature. Coming such an immense 

 distance, many of them from the tropics to the far north, 

 often one or two thousand miles, how can they time them- 

 selves so well? No matter what the weather is, or the 

 character of the season, I know within a few days at most, 

 in many cases almost within a few hours, when to expect 

 each species.* Not many hours from the morning of 

 the 7th of April I may be sure of the pleasing melody 

 of the Bay- winged Bunting, or Grass Finch; and as soon as 

 one appears, they become almost numberless. About the 

 1st of May I may expect the Catbird, the Indigo-bird, the 

 Redstart, the Black-throated Blue Warbler, and the Yellow 

 Warbler; and about a week later arrive the Golden-crowned 

 Warbler, the Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and the Wood Thrush. 

 This exact time of arrival adds a delightful interest to 

 the study of ornithology. I wait for the coming of the 

 birds, especially for my favorite ones, as for the coming of 

 my friends. As our rugged winter wears away, I count the 

 weeks and the days. 



* This is particularly true of the land-birds. Many of the water-birds (but by no means 

 all of them), especially such as migrate along the water-courses of the interior, may be 

 governed considerably by the nature of the season. 



