THE FOREST 181 



miliar to the ornithologist, that comes showering 

 down from the sky. 



As is well known, most of the smaller birds 

 migrate by night. The reason of tliis is that they 

 are unable to find their insect or vegetable food 

 in the dark, and they must needs devote the day 

 to that important function, snatching a few 

 w^inks of sleep when they can. Birds that can 

 feed as they fly, like swallows and night hawks, 

 and also strong flying birds like the crow and 

 robin and, I believe, the hummingbird migrate 

 by day and sleep at night as usual. Many of the 

 ducks and shore birds migrate by day as the}' are 

 able to feed at night and all of them are strong 

 fliers. The delicate warblers, wrens, sparrows 

 and flycatchers make the long journeys at night, 

 and on favorable nights the air is filled with 

 their calls as they cheer each other on their 

 travels. 



I am inclined to think, as a result of many 

 observations, that the first regular morning awak- 

 ening and song of our summer residents is that of 

 the tree swallow. It is a simple song a couj^le ot 

 notes frequently repeated, but, dropping down 



