BIRDS AND THEIR VOYAGES 97 



to them the news that a storm is being born. But it 

 is a very little way into the future that the wild 

 creature can feel or see a few hours at most. The 

 winter birds do not migrate till the frost and snow 

 are on them, threatening famine ; and flying one day 

 before bad weather, they have no knowledge that next 

 day the wind will drop or change and the snow begin 

 to melt. There is no meteorology for wild life. It 

 cannot weigh the air or read the skies. The feat of 

 migration is marvellous. Its ease, concentration, un- 

 animity are far above us. But has not its foresight 

 been overpraised ? Has it foresight to speak of ? If 

 man is very dim about to-morrow, surely the bird and 

 beast are blind. 



