MIGRATION AND FLIGHT. 113 



attachment of a parent to its young, is not in all 

 cases, strong enough to conquer the still stronger 

 impulse for migration; for Swallows will actually 

 desert their nests, and leave helpless little ones to 

 perish by hunger, rather than remain long after their 

 companions. A pair of Martins which had deserted 

 their family in the autumn, on returning in the 

 spring, were observed to draw out the dead bodies 

 of three nearly full-fledged nestlings. Another pair 

 acted in a different manner ; after vainly endeavour- 

 ing to drag out the bodies, which had most probably 

 formed a dried mass with the wool and feathers in 

 the interior, they entirely closed up the opening of 

 the nest with clay, and leaving them thus entombed, 

 proceeded to build another nursery. 



As much interest and amusement may be derived 

 from watching and expecting the arrival and de- 

 parture of our migratory birds, we annex a list of a 

 few of the most common, with the earliest and latest 

 dates which have come under our observation. 



Having thus noticed, as extensively as our limits 

 would allow, some of the most prominent external 



VOL I I 



