THE TRAVELS OF BIRDS 



Nova Scotia to South America? Or how shall 

 we express our amazement that tiny Warblers, 

 Vireos, and Flycatchers can wing their way 

 through the blackness of the night and after 

 traveling thousands of miles arrive on the date 

 on which they were due? 



-So we repeat the question which people for 

 years have asked before us how do they find 

 the way? Or, in other words, what is the birds' 

 compass? Sight may be~of assistance to birds on 

 short journeys, but, as we have seen, it would be 

 of small service over hundreds, not to say thou- 

 sands, of miles of water. The sense of smell is 

 poorly developed in birds, but in any case it 

 would be of no value over the distances they 

 travel. Their sense of hearing is very acute. 

 When they are migrating they frequently utter 

 their call-notes. Doubtless these serve to keep 

 birds of the same kind together. But the leaders 

 of a flock or company hear no calls ahead to 

 guide them. 



Taste and touch have certainly nothing to do 

 with it. So we conclude that birds possess a sixth 

 138 



