BIRD MIGRANTS ON SHIPS AT SEA. 375 



doves, pigeons, and one or two species of European 

 water birds. We carried doves, starlings, and grey 

 water wagtails from near the coasts of Egypt to 

 Brindisi: they used to come and feed upon crumbs 

 and other substances dropped about the decks close 

 to the feet of passengers. 



There remained the difficulty as to water, as some 

 of these birds (viz., one dove and a pair of wagtails) 

 stuck by the ship as far as Malta, and were we believe 

 the same that originally accompanied us from Egypt. 

 There was a place where no doubt plenty of fresh 

 water could have been obtained, had they known 

 of it. But we never could see that they visited it. 

 In that case an interesting question arises as to how 

 these birds could exist without water. We can have 

 no doubt, however, that enough could be obtained 

 from the precipitation of drops of dew upon wire ropes 

 and other ironwork to furnish them with a sufficient 

 supply. In the early mornings, almost everywhere at 

 sea, this deposit of fresh water takes place, and would 

 furnish sufficient sustenance for a number of little 

 creatures like these birds ; we can have no doubt that 

 it is in this way, in dry desert regions, that many birds 

 manage to sustain life, when to all appearance they 

 are entirely bereft of water. There are certain regions, 

 it is true, where for long periods there is no dew; 

 in large portions of South Africa this is so during 

 January, February and part of March; that is to say 

 there is no apparent dew, and a man can sleep out all 

 night without the least appearance of damp settling 

 upon him. But in most desert regions, dew falls 

 during the greater portion of the year in Central 

 Australia for example, in a perfectly waterless district, 



