Migration 



To the birds we must turn if we would study migration 

 in its highest form. " The migratory movements of birds 

 are interesting in the extreme. Their arrival is the 

 harbinger of spring ; their departure the unfailing sign of 

 winter's advent. But of higher interest still are all the 

 causes and influences which prompt and govern these various 

 migratory movements. We see the woods all radiant 

 with opening leaf and fragrant bloom suddenly become 

 tenanted with these little wanderers from sunny southern 

 lands delicate little creatures many of them, whose 

 bodies would scarcely fill a good-sized thimble, yet we 

 know these frail little feathered travellers have covered 

 the land and sea for many thousands of miles they are 

 fresh from the palm-trees and glorious wealth of tropical 

 verdure far away in the soft, lovely south. The terrors 

 and perils of the long journey are soon forgotten like 

 dreams they pass away, and songs of sweetest cadence 

 pour joyously from their little throats. In autumn's 

 balmy days we see these migrants preparing for their long 

 journey. All is eager excitement to be gone. The brown- 

 ing leaves and mournful winds of autumn, the first white 

 frost aud cool nights, sternly bid these little travellers 

 depart. As we watch them flitting restlessly about from 

 twig to twig, or congregating in merry flocks on buildings 

 and telegraph wires, we think of their early departure with 

 regret and from the bottom of our hearts we wish them a 

 speedy and a safe return." 



The seasonal wanderings of birds have occupied the 

 attention of many eminent naturalists, yet it is strange 

 how little we really know of the subject, astonishing how 

 much there is still to learn. Migration in birds is chiefly 

 concerned with the necessity of finding suitable breeding- 

 places and suitable breeding-places only exist where the 

 food supply is abundant, so that the food question is really 

 at the bottom of migration. Needless to say, the extent 

 of migration varies enormously in different species. 



The grouse nests on the moors but seeks the valleys 



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