MIGRATION AND FLIGHT. 89 



smooths them down,) are chiefly natives of a few islands in 

 the Indian Ocean, and when sailing between these islands, 

 flocks of them are often seen crossing, and always flying 

 against the wind : but as in that climate sudden squalls often 

 occur from an opposite quarter, the birds, when caught by 

 them, are observed immediately to dart upwards till they 

 ascend beyond the reach of the gale, and are then seen to 

 pursue their course as before. 



One other very remarkable fact connected with these long 

 journeys undertaken by birds over seas and lands, is that 

 they are gifted with some secret power, enabling them not 

 only to find their way to and from the distant countries they 

 visit, but actually guiding them to the very same place from 

 whence they came, and the very same spots for building their 

 nests. This has been proved by marking the claws of 

 Swallows, which were in the habit of building in sheds or 

 outhouses, where they could easily be retaken on their return 

 in the spring, and examined. An instance came under our 

 own observation, of a pair of Swallows returning to build for 

 three years in a small closet in a school-house, entering by a 

 broken pane in the casement, and forming their nests in a 

 corner above the window ; and as they were never disturbed, 

 the female would remain sitting, and the male fly in and out 

 in our presence. But though several broods were hatched, 

 the old birds allowed no intruders, and not a single young 

 bird was ever seen to return to the place of its birth after it 

 had once quitted the nest. 



Another instance of confidence placed in man by these 

 little birds, when unmolested, occurred at a nobleman's house 

 in Scotland. A pair of Swallows, a few years ago, built their 

 nest upon the top bar of a clothes-screen in the porter's lodge, 

 which was hung up against the wall ; the young ones were 

 hatched and flew away ; the nest was suffered to remain ; and 

 upon the first appearance of Swallows, the year after, a male 

 bird again entered the apartment, and took a survey of the 

 premises. Having satisfied himself, he went off, but soon 

 returned with a companion, which at first appeared very shy 

 and timid, but in a short time acquired as much assurance 



