34 

 SOME MORE WANDERING IDEAS PERPETUATED. 



The migration of birds has always been a subject most interesting to me. I would remark 

 the improbability of Nature not having defined limits to the migrations entirely within the powers 

 of endurance of the several kinds she created, so as to enable them to inhabit distant countries 

 at the various seasons as appointed by her. When instinct pointed out to the several kinds these 

 limits, and the birds' flight was to extend over great distances of water, it seems impossible to 

 believe the several kinds were created without such instinct and also power of flight as would 

 enable them to accomplish the journey in safety. When flying over land on which the birds 

 can rest, no difficulty arises, and any distance can be traversed, but in such cases, however, 

 there is no possibility of ascertaining the distance travelled over without their resting. When 

 the migration is that of land birds and over water, it seems possible to observe the distance 

 birds do fly without resting, and to ascertain their powers of endurance under such circumstances. 

 One can easily imagine an albatross extending its flight any distance over water, but land birds 

 which can get no rest, even in calm weather, are in a different position altogether. An albatross 

 perhaps could get rest on the huge waves in mid-ocean even in stormy weather, and it might 

 find shelter, to some extent, by flying along and keeping in the 'hollow of the waves merely 

 passing from one to the other, but as it was created to wander so far from land, it no doubt 

 has instinct as well as power given to it to enable it to reach such shelter as it requires when- 

 ever circumstances render it desirable for it to do so. 



