82 BIRDS OP PASSAGE. 



the winter with us, and not the summer. These 

 are called winter birds of passage; and are chiefly 

 water-fowl, that are driven from more northern 

 regions by the freezing of the creeks, lakes, and 

 marshes. These leave us in the spring, when the 

 waters are again open, and breed while they are 

 absent; generally retiring to Canada and New 

 Britain. Such birds as feed in the night, as the 

 woodcock, perform their migration by night; and 

 others, that seek their food during the day, fly 

 during daylight, and rest at night. 



When it is asked how birds can make such dis- 

 tant journeys? the answer is simple The rate at 

 which they fly is quite astonishing, and has been 

 calculated at from fifty to seventy miles an hour. 

 A day's journey would carry them, therefore, four 

 or five hundred miles; and, as they are capable 

 of remaining for many hours without food, they 

 easily pass from one country to another. 



Questions. 



What is the meaning of migration 1 



Do many quadrupeds migrate ? 



Do many birds migrate, and what name is given to them ? 



What is remarkable about the return of the swallow 1 



Where does it pass the winter ? 



Where does the mocking-bird winter 1 ? 



Do summer birds of passage rear their young with us 1 



What kind of birds are chiefly the winter birds of passage ? 



Do these breed with us ? 



At what rate do these birds fly ? 



