CHAPTER XXVI 



MIGRATIONS 



Before setting out on migration, birds, the 

 swallow tribe for instance, begin to collect at 

 some point near the coast. For several days 

 parties of these intending migrants continue 

 to arrive from inland districts until a large 

 number has assembled. Among them may be 

 seen sand-martins, house -martins, and the 

 common swallow. Telegraph wires are often 

 chosen by these small-footed birds as in every 

 way suitable for their mass-meeting. In ser- 

 ried files, almost touching one another, they sit 

 on the wires in groups and companies, whilst 

 others are hawking in the neighbourhood. 

 Under these circumstances we have again an 

 opportunity for observing telepathic mind- 

 blending. Spontaneously, without incidental 

 alarm of any kind, a batch of 50 or 100 birds 

 is seen to quit the wires as if, literally, they 

 had been struck off by an electric shock* ; but 



1 A bird perched on a telegraph wire is not affected by the 

 electric current ; this Would only be possible in the unlikely event 

 of its possessing one leg long enough to touch the ground beneath. 



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