WILD LIFE OF ORCHARD AND FIELD 



of the ground to allow the worms to come to the 

 surface ; and know that in warm, springy meadows 

 these birds may often be found all through the 

 year. Man, no doubt, influences the migratory hab- 

 its of birds. To many he offers inducements in the 

 shelter, and in the abundance of insects which his 

 industry occasions, to linger later in the fall than 

 was their wont, and return earlier in the spring. 

 While, on the contrary, the persecution which the 

 shy wild-fowl have received has caused them 

 generally to repair to secluded breeding-places, 

 far north of their haunts of fifty years ago. But 

 the migrations of most birds are somewhat irreg- 

 ular, and we have so few reliable data that we 

 can hardly yet determine the laws which govern 

 their seasonal movements, much less assert the an- 

 cient origin of the "migratory instinct/' so called, 

 or state the varied influences that have led to 

 the present powerful habit, and have pointed out 

 the routes which the flocks now follow, spring and 

 fall. The geologist must aid the zoological student 

 in solving these problems. 



The true home of a bird, then, is where it rears 

 its young, even though it be not there more than 

 a third of the year, and everywhere else it is mere- 

 ly a traveller or migrant. Should you then, after, 



41 



