and the Maritime Provinces. 275 



CHAPTER XVII. 



A Theo^v to Account 



FOR THE 



JVIighatioh OF BlP^DS, with H 0TES 



ON THE 



JVIig^ation op Sho^e a^d Wateh BlPpS. 



By C. J. MflYNflRD. 



As far back as history or tradition extends, from the time when quails 

 came up from the sea to satisfy the unlawful longings of the children of 

 Israel for the fleshpots of Egypt, even until the present day, have the 

 migrations of birds been considered a mystery. 



Now I do not know whether the theory which I am going to advance 

 is absolutely new or not, for I have purposely avoided reading up on the 

 subject in order that what I have to say may have the advantage of being 

 from independent observation. But of this I am certain, that up to date 

 no theory has been presented in a sufficiently forcible manner to satisfy 

 ornithologists in general that it is correct. Mr. Alfred Newton, the cele- 

 brated English ornithologist, in his article upon birds, published in the last 

 edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica, says that the migration of birds is 

 the "mystery of mysteries." In the recent work upon the migration of 

 birds in Heligoland, the author not only does not advance any theory, but 

 goes as far as to say that migration never has been satisfactorily explained 

 nor can it ever be explained. An able American ornithologist, in review- 

 ing this work, practically says that this statement is one of the best parts 

 of the book. 



We have all of us, without doubt, seen an old hen who, after rearing a 

 brood of chickens with great care, giving them every attention through the 

 earlier portions of their career, when they have arrived at a certain age 

 suddenly turn upon them, and by blows from her beak drive them from 

 her. That old hen has, by that act, furnished the clew to the solving of 

 the mystery. In other words, when the hen struck the first blow at her 

 offspring, she sounded the keynote which vibrates through the whole sys- 

 tem of migration of birds and other animals. 



