Gbe Marbler 25 



mysteries of nature we may be humble under a sense of our inferiority and 

 adore the wisdom of God. 



I am not aware that any one in our country has as yet written, beyond 

 a few paragraphs, on the migration of birds. Probably it may have been 

 considered a speculation not sufficiently important to merit the labor and re- 

 search which are necessary to produce a satisfactory result in such an intri- 

 cate subject. Having possessed opportunities in three very distinct portions 

 of America of witnessing these migrations and believing that every individual 

 should communicate to society the information he may possess, however 

 imperfect and on subjects ever so humble, I propose this evening to call 

 your attention to the subject of the migration of the birds of North 

 America. 



When the period of migration arrives birds evidence an uncontrollable 

 restlessness of disposition as if conscious that an important undertaking 

 was at hand. The Snow and Canada Geese (Anser hyperborea and cana- 

 densis) which I have had for some years in a state of domestication, although 

 in other respects perfectly tame, make constant efforts on the return of everv 

 spring to obey the impulse of nature and take their departure for the North. 

 Although a joint from a wing of each has been removed, yet they make at- 

 tempts at flying, and when at this season they are enable to escape from their 

 enclosure they hurry off in a northern direction as if determined to make 

 their long journey on foot. Wilson gives a well authenticated anecdote of a 

 female wild Goose having been domesticated by Mr. Piatt of Long Island, 

 which after flying off on the following spring returned in the autumn with 

 three of its comrades or gang, and the birds were all living several years 

 afterwards. I have preserved in an Aviary Robins, Finches and Orioles that 

 had been procured when young at the North, and no sooner did the spring, 

 the time of migration, arrive than they exhibited by their constant flutter- 

 ing a disposition to escape, and the moment this was affected they flew off — 

 not to the South or West, but as directly in the line of migration as if guid- 

 ed by a compass. These are facts of which the humblest individual may in- 

 form himself, but which neither our wisdom or philosophy can explain. 



That there is something very mysterious in that instinct which teaches 

 birds at particular seasons of the year to leave their native haunts — to take 

 wing and pursue their onward course, sometimes across arms of the Sea, and 

 in most cases over rivers, mountains and forests into far distant countries 

 none can deny. That many of these should commence their migrations 

 in summer and thus anticipate the cold, and that others should return from 

 southern climes before the snows of the north have disappeared, and whilst 

 winter still lingers in the lap of spring, will probably ever remain a subject 

 of doubt and perplexity to the inquiring mind. 



Among animals and birds we often discover a train of actions, all cal- 



