BIRDS IN GENERAL. 



457 



of mankind than these annual emigrations; 

 and yet few subjects continue so much involv- 

 ed in darkness. It is generally believed, that 

 the cause of their retreat from these parts of 

 Europe, is either a scarcity of food at certain 

 seasons, or the want of a secure asylum from 

 the persecution of man, during the time of 

 courtship and bringing up their young. Thus 

 the starling, in Sweden, at the approach of 

 winter, finding subsistence no longer in that 

 kingdom, descends every year into Germany; 

 and the hen chaffinches of the same country 

 are seen every year to fly through Holland 

 in large flocks, to pass their winter in a milder 

 climate. Others, with a more daring spirit, 

 prepare for journeys that might intimidate even 

 human perseverance. Thus the quails, in 

 spring, forsake the burning heats of Africa for 

 the milder sun of Europe ; and, when they 

 have past the summer with us, steer their 

 flight back to enjoy in Egypt the temperate 

 air, which then begins to be delightful. This, 

 with them, seems a preconcerted undertaking. 

 They unite together in some open place, for 

 some days before their departure, and, by an 

 odd kind of chattering, seem to debate on the 

 method to proceed. When their plan is re- 

 solved upon, they all take flight together, and 

 often appear in such numbers, that to mari- 

 ners at sea they seem like a cloud that rests 

 upon the horizon. The boldest, strongest, 

 and by far the greatest number, make good 

 their intention; but many there are, who, not 

 well apprised of their own force for the un- 

 dertaking, grow weary on the way, and, quite 

 spent by the fatigues of their flight, drop 

 down into the sea, and sometimes upon deck, 

 thus becoming an easy prey to the mariner. 



Of the vast quantity of water-fowl, that fre- 

 quent our shores, it is amazing to reflect how 

 few are known to breed here. The cause 

 that principally urges them to leave this coun- 

 try, seems to be not merely the want of food, 

 but the desire of a secure retreat. Our coun- 

 try is too populous for birds so shy and timid 

 as the greatest number of these are. When 

 great part of our island was a mere waste, an 

 uncultivated tract of woods and marshes, 

 many species of birds which now migrate re- 

 mained with us throughout the year. The 

 great heron and the crane, that have now for- 

 saken this country, in former times bred 



familiarly in our marshes, and seemed to ani- 

 mate our fens. Their nests, like those of 

 most cloven footed water-fowl, were built on 

 the ground, and exposed to every invader. 

 But as rural economy increased, these ani- 

 mals were more and more disturbed. Before 

 they had little to fear, as the surrounding 

 marsh defended them from all the carniver- 

 ous quadrupeds, and their own strength from 

 birds of prey; but upon the intrusion of man. 

 and by a long series of alarms, they have at 

 length been obliged to seek, during the sum- 

 mer, some lonely habitation, at a safe distance 

 from every destroyer. 



Of the numerous tribes of the duck kind, 

 we know of no more than five that breed here; 

 the tame swan, the tame goose, the sheldrake, 

 the eider duck, and a few of the wild ducks. 

 The rest contribute to form that amazing 

 multitude of water-fowl which annually repair 

 So the dreary lakes and deserts of Lapland 

 from the more southern countries of Europe. 

 In those extensive and solitary retreats, they 

 perform the duties of incubation and nutri- 

 tion in full security. There are few of this 

 kind that may not be traced to the northern 

 deserts, to countries of lakes, rivers, swamps, 

 and mountains, covered with thick and gloo- 

 my forests, that afford shelter during summer 

 to the tirnid animals, who live therein undis- 

 turbed security. In those regions, from the 

 thickness of the forests, the ground remains 

 moist and penetrable during the summer sea- 

 son ; the woodcock, the snipe, and other slen- 

 der-billed birds, can there feed at ease ; while 

 the web-footed birds find more than sufficient 

 plenty of food from the number of insects, which 

 swarm there to an incredible degree. The 

 days there are long; and the beautiful me- 

 teorous nights afford them every opportunity 

 of collecting so minute a food, which is pro- 

 bably of all others the most grateful. We 

 are not to be astonished, therefore, at the 

 amazing number of fowl that descend from 

 these regions at the approach of winter ; 

 numbers to which the army of Xerxes Avas 

 but trifling in comparison; and which Linnaeus 

 has observed for eight whole days and nights 

 to cover the surface of the river Calix. 



This migration from the north usually be- 

 gins in September, when they quit their re- 

 treats, and disperse themselves over all the 



