BIRDS IN GENERAL. 



15 



numbers to which the army of Xerxes was 

 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 

 southern parts of Europe. It is not unplea- 

 sing to observe the order of their flight ; they 

 generally range themselves in a long line, or 

 they sometimes make their march angularly, 

 two lines uniting in the centre like the letter 

 V reversed. The bird which leads at the 

 point seems to cleave the air, to facilitate the 

 passage for those which are to follow. When 

 fatigued with this laborious station, it falls 

 back into one of the wings of the file, while 

 another takes its place. With us they make 

 their appearance about the beginning of Oc- 

 tober, circulate first round our shores, and, 

 when compelled by severe frost, betake them- 

 selves to our lakes and rivers. Some, indeed, 

 of the web-footed fowl, of hardier constitutions 

 than the rest, abide the rigours of their nor- 

 thern climate the whole winter ; but when the 

 cold reigns there with more than usual sever- 

 ity, they are obliged to seek for more south- 

 ern skies. They then repair with the rest for 

 shelter to these kingdoms ; so that the diver, 

 the wild swan, and the swallow-tailed sheld- 

 rake, visit our coasts but seldom, and that only 

 when compelled by the severity of their win- 

 ters at home. 1 



1 The facts which are known relative to the migration 

 of birds are very curious, and yet leave a vast field for 

 interesting observation. Some birds regularly return, after 

 a certain absence, not only to the same country, but to the 

 same spot where they built their nests before, or where 

 they were bred. Many storks, which become half tame 

 in Germany, have been marked, and found to re- 

 turn regularly to their old nests, built on a wheel, which 

 the peasants of that country, particularly in the north, 

 place, for that purpose, on the corner of the roofs of their 

 houses. The same is related of swallows, and other 

 birds of passage. Other birds do not return to a particu- 

 lar country, but travel, according to circumstances, from 

 one to another. Among the former are some which re- 

 main in the country of their nativity only as long as is 

 necessary to breed and bring up their young; others are 

 absent but for a very short time. The loriot remains 

 but three months in the middle regions of Europe, whilst 

 the lark is absent but for a very short time. Mr Brehm, 

 a German, has collected many interesting facts respect- 

 ing the birds of passage. Generally speaking, they are 

 determined as to the place where they build their nests, 

 by the means of subsistence which they find, as, for in- 

 stance, the grosbeak, goldfinch, pigeons, cranes, land- 

 rails, several species of herons, woodcock, geese, ducks. 

 In 1819, the fruit of the pine-tree being scarce in the 

 north of Europe, whilst it was very abundant in the cen- 

 tral parts, large numbers of the crossbill, which chiefly 

 lives upon this food, were found in the latter regions. 



Hunters, and other people living much in the open 

 air, know that certain birds do not migrate, except on 

 the approach of a severe winter. How are these birds 

 led to migrate at such seasons ? The general and easy 

 answer is, by instinct. But what is instinct? Cer- 



It has been often a subject of astonishment, 

 how animals, to all appearance so dull and 

 irrational, should perform such long journeys, 

 should know whither to steer, and when to 



tainly we cannot mean, by this term, a constant direct 

 interposition of Providence, which drives the birds away 

 because a severe winter is coming on. Instinct, what- 

 ever it may be, must be guided by general laws. In 

 what way, however, the birds are led to guard against 

 the severity of the approaching season, whether by pecu- 

 liar sensibility to the causes from which its severity will 

 proceed, or in other ways, we know not. It has been 

 maintained that much of the conduct of animals neces- 

 sarily implies reflection. The vicissitudes of the atmos- 

 phere, on the arrival of the migrating time, have also a 

 great influence upon them. Most birds perform their 

 migration during the night; some species, however, by 

 day. Others stop not, either by day or night. To the 

 class which fly by day belong the birds of prey which ob- 

 tain their food by day. the crow, pie, titmouse, wren, 

 woodpecker, chaffinch, goldfinch, lark, swallow, and 

 some others. Those which travel by night are the owl, 

 blackbird, &c., and a great number of aquatic birds. 

 Those which stop not, day or night, are the heron, wag- 

 tail, yellow-hammer, plover, stork, crane, wildgoose, 

 swan. It is very remarkable, that individuals of those 

 species which travel day and night, and which, by some 

 cause, are prevented from migrating, remain, during all 

 the time of the migration of their species, awake, and 

 only occupy themselves with taking food. These birds 

 like particularly to travel in bright moonlight. 



Many birds obtain their food on the wing. The 

 swallows, traversing the sea, catch insects, and fishing 

 birds catch fish, whilst they continue their journey. If 

 the titmouse, wren, woodpecker, and pie, rest for some 

 time on the branches of trees, they soon resume their 

 flight, after having fed. Those birds which habitually 

 alight on spots where they find nourishment in abun- 

 dance, never remain longer than two days in succession, 

 if nothing opposes the continuance of their flight. It is 

 a curious fact that at these times many birds utter cries 

 such as they are never heard to make at any other time. 

 Unless obliged by fogs to keep near the ground, birds 

 generally fly very high during their migration. Of all 

 migrating birds, the cranes are perhaps the most remark- 

 able. They seem to be most endowed with foresight. 

 They call each other by certain cries, several days be- 

 fore they depart, assemble, and make a great noise, as if 

 consulting; after which, they range themselves in two 

 lines, forming an angle, at the vertex of which is the 

 leader, who appears to exercise authority and give or- 

 ders, for instance, to form a circle in a tempest, or to 

 be watchful if eagles approach, &c. ; he also gives the 

 sign to descend and take food. If he is tired, he places 

 himself at the end of the line, and the bird next behind 

 him takes his place. They utter, during the night, 

 more piercing cries than during the day, and it seems as 

 if orders and answers were given. Wild geese and 

 ducks travel in a similar way. To enable birds to fly 

 with ease, and to continue long on the wing, they must 

 fly against the wind, in which respect flying is directly 

 opposite to sailing. Sportsmen are well acquainted 

 with this fact. If the wind is unfavourable for a time, 

 the migration is retarded, yet never entirely given up, 

 only the birds arrive much leaner, being fatigued by 

 their efforts. It is astonishing how tender birds, as the 

 linget, for instance, set out from the extremity of Nor- 

 way, and brave a long journey even over the ocean. 

 The quails, which are heavy in their flight, wait on the 

 shores of the Mediterranean, often a long time, for a fa- 

 vourable wind, of which they immediately avail them- 

 selves, halting on all the islands. If the wind suddenly 

 changes, many are drowned in the sea. 



