374 THE GREAT FROST OF JANUARY 1895. 



requires a temporary stress of abnormal weather to 

 call it into active operation. In the severe winter 

 of 1894 5 migrations of these birds were, we under- 

 stand, again repeated; we can all of us w^ell under- 

 stand that driven by want and the severity of the 

 cold, they would attempt, if possible, to seek a less 

 rigorous climate pending the return of milder weather : 

 but what is astonishing is how birds who do not 

 habitually migrate, can instinctively find their way 

 towards the south when necessity impels their 

 flight; the loss of life is probably however enormous. 

 The most competent observers believe the mortality 

 caused by bird migrations to be always very great, 

 even among those species which habitually roam the 

 furthest, and which as a rule follow regular lines of 

 flight. These great flight lines generally follow the 

 general direction of coasts, or the paths of great rivers 

 and streams, which serve more or less as guides to 

 point out the course to be followed; but these safe- 

 guards, the result of instinctive experiences acquired 

 by many generations of previous migrants, are want- 

 ing in the case of the casual migrant. That the 

 sufferings of birds were very great, during the return 

 migrations in the spring of 1895 (after the sallying 

 forth during the great frost that laid its hand upon 

 Europe generally, during the two first months of that 

 year), there can be no doubt: as we happened to be 

 returning from the eastward at the time, and especially 

 noticed the number and variety of the poor birds 

 that sought refuge upon the masts and awnings of 

 our ship, both in the Red Sea and in the Mediterranean. 

 These birds which were doubtless migrants which had 

 lost their way consisted of swallows, finches, starlings, 



