on an April morning and find every plantation full of Willow 

 Wrens, where there was scarcely one the day before. Has any 

 one observed them travelling ? Do they come by night, in large 

 flocks, or singly ? The numbers of one of the common species 

 alone dispersed over the country must be surprising, and as there 

 are so many species on the move about the same time, one would 

 expect to see or hear of large flocks or single birds being seen 

 continually arriving ; but one does not, they appear scattered over 

 the country all at once, at the regular places suitable to them. 

 Fortunately, this great army of small insect-devourers is not 

 likely to be diminished in numbers by poisoned grain. C. M. A. 

 (Northumberland.) 



MIGRATORY BIRDS. 



June 6th, 1863. 



A SHORT time ago an inquiry was made whether the Starling was 

 migratory. At first sight this appears to be a question easily 

 answered, but it is not so. Are not a far greater number of the 

 species of birds we have migratory than is generally believed ? 

 Before determining whether a species is migratory, we must not 

 only look at home, but endeavonr to find out its habits abroad. 

 We will then probably find that although it may be found 

 throughout the year in this country, it only appears in others at 

 certain seasons. The Skylark and Common Thrush are not ge- 

 nerally supposed to be migratory, but when a severe snowstorm 

 comes early in the season and remains for a length of time, do 

 they not migrate from this country ? Indeed, is it not possible 

 that we get a great many, if not nearly all we have in winter, 

 from a distance every winter ? We are told that these species 

 are migratory on some parts of the continent, and therefore if 

 they are enabled to foretell winter there, why need we doubt 

 their being able to foretell a severe winter here, and be able to 

 leave the country before they are overtaken by a storm which 

 might probably destroy them ? It is interesting to hear accounts < 

 of the different sort of birds which alight on ships or are seen at 



