CONSERVATION OF GAME BIRDS. 551 



but was unnoted by the inhabitants until it stopped on account 

 of an unusual supply of food. The fact that it was seen there 

 that year and not before or afterward does not indicate any 

 change in its line of flight in that particular year. It is stated 

 by George B. Sennett that an "unusual flight" of Swans 

 occurred in northwestern Pennsylvania on March 22, 1879 

 (see page 197) ; but upon reading the account we find that a 

 sleet storm brought them to earth. A large flight of Swans 

 undoubtedly passes across the State twice every year in the 

 migration from the fur countries to the south Atlantic sea- 

 board and back. Probably they usually fly so high that they 

 pass unnoticed. Here was no change in the "line of flight;" no 

 "unusual flight," merely a stop at an unusual point. Probably 

 there is little change in the annual direction of the flight 

 pursued by any of these birds, except such as may be caused 

 by scarcity or abundance of food or the accidents of migra- 

 tion. Early wild-fowl may frequent a certain river one spring 

 because the ice breaks up earlier than in some other river. 

 The conditions may change the next year. There are occa- 

 sions when birds are overtaken by severe storms (which obscure 

 their outlook), accompanied by high winds, which deflect the 

 bewildered creatures sometimes hundreds of miles from their 

 course. Hence the "flights" of shore birds, which sometimes 

 land on the coast during northeast storms. They are drifted 

 in by the gale, or are passing high overhead and, becoming 

 confused, alight. Such storms sometimes drive salt-water 

 fowl far inland. High winds from the west may sometimes 

 send to our shores flights of shore birds which are crossing the 

 country in their regular migration to or from the south Atlantic 

 coast. It is a well-known fact that as the migration along 

 the Atlantic coast has lessened in numbers, these flights on 

 westerly winds have become more noticeable, and this often is 

 advanced as another proof that the shore birds are not less 

 numerous but have "changed their line of flight," and now 

 usually pass to the west. This is an error. There always has 

 been a great flight of birds from the great northwest to the 

 south Atlantic and Gulf States. The flight on the Atlantic 

 coast remains the same, except for the great diminution m 



