494 THE PHILOSOPHY 



many birds, as larks, fnipes, &c. retire from the inland parts 

 of the country to the fea-fliores, where they pick up a fcan- 

 ty fubiiftance. Others, as the wren, the red-breafl:, and many 

 of the fmall birds, or fparrow-kind, refort to gardens, and 

 the habitations of men. Their intention, it is obvious, is to 

 procure food and Ihelter. 



There are three principle obje£ls of migration : Food, 

 temperature of air, and convenient lituations for breeding. 

 Such birds as migrate to great diftances are alone denominat- 

 ed birds ofpaffage. But all birds are, in fome meafure, birds 

 of pafTage, though they do not migrate to places fo remote 

 from their fomer abodes. At particular thnes of the year, 

 moft, birds migrate from one county to another, or from the 

 more inland diftri<Sts toward the fhorcs. Thefe partii;) mi- 

 grations ©f fmall birds are well known to bird-catchers, who 

 make a livelihood by enfnaring them into their nets, 

 and felling them. The birds fly, as the bird-catchers term 

 it, about the end of September, and during the months of 

 October and November. There is another, but lefs coniid- 

 erable, flight in March. Some begin their flight annually 

 about Michaelmas ; others, as the wood-larks, fucceed, and 

 continue their flight till the middle of O^Tlober j but the 

 green-flnch does not migrate till thefrofl obliges it to remove 

 in queft of food and flicker. Thefe partial migrations, or 

 flittings, are performed from day-break till noon. Another, 

 but fmaller, flight commences at tu'o o'clock, and continues 

 till night approaches. The times v/hen particular birds mi- 

 grate from one fltuation to another are well known to the 

 bird-catchers, who, by means of call-birds, nets, and other 

 devices, feize great numbers of them, and, after accufl:oming 

 them for fome time to reflraint and flavery, fell them, for 

 conflderable prices, to curious men and vaiimfical women. 

 A diligent attention to thefe partial migrations, and their 



