78 THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS 



where for some weeks they fatten on the autumn 

 harvest of fruits. A short journey across the Gulf 

 of St Lawrence brings them to Nova Scotia, where 

 they gather before starting on their oversea flight. 

 The eastward trip to the food-supplying districts 

 is support of the idea that a route is originated by 

 passage from food-base to food-base, rather than 

 by any hasty rush from the dangers of approaching 

 winter. The birds start south from Nova Scotia 

 for South America ! 



During this long oversea journey, which Mr 

 G. H. Mackay thinks, with reason, may be under- 

 taken under favourable conditions at a speed of 

 from 150 to 200 miles an hour by birds with such 

 magnificent power of flight, the plovers may meet 

 with many different winds. The Cape Cod sports- 

 men look for them if the wind is strong from the 

 north-east ; the Barbados gunners expect them 

 when there is squally weather from the south-east, 

 but when westerly breezes are blowing they will 

 pass so far as 400 miles east of the Bermudas. 

 Only when the wind is adverse and strong do the 

 plovers visit the Bermudas or even stop at any of 

 the northern Lesser Antilles, 600 miles from the 

 coast of South America. In favourable weather 

 they neglect any of these " emergency stop-overs " 

 and hasten on. In the Guianas the birds rest and 

 feed, but they soon move on. Across the Brazils 



