MIGRATION OF SHORE-BIRDS 113 



fieldfare. It may be that the individual fieldfares which in 

 hard winters become victims of the rigours of the weather here, 

 have reached their southern limit of migration, and that their 

 knowledge or power of further progress is also limited. On 

 the other hand, some birds may be said to have exceeded the 

 range of necessary migration by accomplishing enormous and 

 incredible distances. I would here mention the whimbrel, 

 curlew-sandpiper, and little stint. There is no absolute need 

 for these species to journey so far. 



For the benefit of those who have not closely studied the 

 migration of birds, I will mention a very generally accepted 

 theory on the subject. This migration of birds is a mystery 

 which may ever remain unsolved, and, beyond stating that it 

 is undoubtedly an evolution of a habit which has with the 

 hand of time become a natural instinct, I leave this point to 

 others. Furthermore, it is thought by those persons who have 

 scientifically studied birds that a common desire or custom to 

 return to where they were bred is more or less evident, should 

 unavoidable circumstances have been instrumental in driving 

 them from their nesting-ground. In all creatures some power 

 instils a longing to return to the land of birth, provided a 

 return is practicable. This is but common natural history. 

 Supposing, as we are led to do, that somewhere near the 

 North Pole was the first home of birds, and that through 

 the ages, with changing meteorological conditions transform- 

 ing the climatic status, the birds each year have been com- 

 pelled to seek lands anew, with the advent of a possible chance 

 to return to their old homes they would, with a natural impulse, 

 rush thither. In this manner, in the course of time (how long 

 it would be difficult to estimate), this wonderful migration has 

 been brought about. 



In the southern hemisphere bird migration is totally dis- 

 similar to that of the northern, and what little is noticed is said 

 to be entirely of local origin. When speaking of the south- 



