98 On the Migration of North American Birds, 



cessive years. A robin, bred for a still longer time in the same ap- 

 ple tree, and a red tailed hawk, [Falco borealis,) which is distinguish- 

 ed from all others of the species on account of its plumage having 

 accidentally become white, has for the last twelve winters, kept 

 possession of a dead pine in an old field in Colleton district, (South 

 Carolina.) 



Whilst many species of birds perform their migrations during the 

 day a great number travel by night. The lover of nature who in the 

 seasons of the migrations of birds, sees flock after flock passing over 

 his head, all day long, or witnesses the wrens, blue birds and creep- 

 ers just stopping for a few moments to seize a worm or insect and 

 then as if impelled by destiny, rising again on the wing and urging 

 onwards ; has also the evidence that many pass over him at night. 

 He hears unusual sounds in the air. The single sharp note of the rice 

 bird repeated all around him is succeeded by the crake of the snipe 

 resembling the grating of a wheel repeated at long intervals, and the 

 woodcock, {Scolopax minor,) wheels around him uttering notes like 

 the loud tickings of a watch so rapidly repeated that they cannot be 

 counted. He ascends higher and still higher in the air like the lark of 

 Europe till lie seems to have risen above the clouds, when suddenly 

 his voice is hushed and in zigzag lines he descends rapidly to the 

 earth and alights near the same spot from whence he arose. This is 

 repeated for several successive evenings and at early dawn till sud- 

 denly, he commences his annual migration and is seen no more. The 

 yellow crowned and the night herons utter their hoarse croak as 

 they pass high and rapidly on, and at a still greater distance like un- 

 earthly sounds, is heard the not unmusical cry of the Canada goose. 

 In the mean time the rails, owls, thrushes, warblers, and many other 

 birds glide silently by him like spirits of the air; and without being 

 superstitious, there comes over him a sensation of mingled admira- 

 tion and fear and he feels the truth of the language of inspiration. 

 " Great and marvellous are thy works Lord God Almighty." 



The arrival and departure of birds affords a pretty sure indication 

 of the state of the weather and the advance of the seasons. Living 

 constantly in the air and exposed to all its variations, they become, 

 either from instinct or habit, acquainted with the changes of the at- 

 mosphere, with the winds, the weather and the seasons. Captain 

 Parry and Dr. Richardson inform us of the anxiety with which 

 the northern Indians watched the approach of the first bird, the har- 

 binger of spring. On the 12th of April, says Dr. Richardson, the 



