THE TRAVELS OF BIRDS 



birds migrate. I will only attempt to tell why 

 some particular bird migrates. 



Following this plan, let us take some simple 

 case, where, so far as we can see, neither climate 

 nor food has anything to do with the matter. 

 The Brown Pelicans of the east coast of Florida 

 will serve our ends admirably. 



During the greater part of the year we find 

 these birds scattered up and down the coast. In 

 diagonal files they sail in stately fashion just 

 above the breakers to their fishing grounds, there 

 to plunge recklessly on the menhaden which 

 form their principal fare. At night they gather 

 on some favorite sand bar to sleep. So their 

 days are made up of flying and fishing and sleep- 

 ing. Then there comes a time when with no 

 change in the seasons and, so far as we know, no 

 decrease in the number of fish, all the Pelicans 

 from the Keys to Georgia, and perhaps farther, 

 have a desire to go to a little mud island about 

 half-way down the Florida coast. This is Peli- 

 can Island in the Indian River, opposite Sebas- 

 tian. 



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