XIX. 



A WINTER VISITOR. 



TDIRDS are admirably equipped for travel. Their mode 

 of progression is one which man has for centuries tried 

 in vain to imitate. No barrier deters them. They laugh at 

 high mountains and mock the ocean. Birds require no 

 baggage. Their progress is hindered by no impedimenta. 

 They are not dependent on inns, hotels, or dak bungalows. 

 They, in short, are able to go where they list. Under such 

 circumstances, it is not surprising that many birds are great 

 travellers. It is rather a matter for wonder that all of them 

 do not take full advantage of the migratory powers with 

 which Nature has endowed them. The globe-trotting birds 

 do not move about aimlessly from place to place with the 

 object of seeing the world and killing time, as is the way of 

 many human travellers. There is method in the wander- 

 ings of birds. Their journeys are periodic, and are dictat- 

 ed by necessity rather than inclination. We, who live in 

 the twentieth century, find it hard to realise what the food 

 problem means for less favoured beings. It matters not to 

 us if we live in a land flowing with milk and honey or in a 

 little island so thickly populated that the soil cannot pro- 

 duce sufficient food in a year to feed the inhabitants for 

 three months. Food is brought to that island from all parts 

 of the world in mighty ships. With birds things are differ- 

 ent ; so even was it with our forefathers. The diligent 

 student of English history must have noticed how our 

 mediaeval kings were constantly on the move. The court 

 was never held for any length of time in one place. The 

 king and his large following did not take long to devour all 

 the good things of one locality, and then must needs move 



