18' INTRODUCTION. 



species, by Mr Swede, a very eminent amateur 

 and bird fancier, it appears that these birds, 

 even in a state of captivity, are affected by instinc- 

 tive feelings to migrate ; for that gentleman ob- 

 served that the birds in his possession became un- 

 usually agitated at the periods at which birds of the 

 same species leave the island in autumn, or return 

 to it again in the spring. He also noticed, that they 

 were affected in a similar manner twice during the 

 winter ; from which he concludes that these birds, 

 after they leave us, perform two other migrations. 

 He says, the fit of restlessness came on towards 

 night, — that they appeared agitated, fluttered much 

 with their wings, and went from one end of the 

 perch to the other, like birds that wished to fly 

 upwards, as they held their heads up, and their 

 eyes were directed to the ceiling of the room : 

 So fixed, indeed, was their stare, and so overpoAV- 

 ered did they appear to be by some internal feel- 

 ing, that they took no notice of any thing held 

 near them, not even a lighted candle. Mr 

 Swete says, that the fit lasted, in autumn and 

 in spring, for a few hom's every evening, du- 

 ring a fortnight, — ^while, in winter, the birds were 

 affected each time only for a few evenings ; from 

 which that gentleman concludes that their winter j 



