MIGRATION 



ments, and on arriving at the desired spot large numbers 

 are slaughtered by the anxiously awaiting inhabitants, who 

 receive them with a fiery warmth. Such is the unfortunate 

 fate of many of our own species who migrate to strange 

 lands, and mstead of becoming settlers are cruelly settled 

 by the rude natives, who, rightly or strongly, object to the 

 intrusion of enterprising strangers. 



Migratory animals frequently are compelled by the 

 nature of their food to shift their quarters as the food 

 upon which they exist may be moving, such as fishes or 

 insects, consequently birds or other animals are obliged 

 to follow in the rear or wake of their lively-anticipated 

 meal ; but in the case of animals that feed on vegetable 

 substances, such as fruit, seeds, berries, etc., that are only 

 to be found at certain seasons, they must also shift from 

 place to place and follow the season that produces their 

 food, reminding one of the story of a man whose penchant 

 for green peas caused him to visit Smyrna, he having 

 heard that at that place they could be obtained in 

 great perfection long before they made their appearance 

 in more northern localities. Having enjoyed his feast 

 until he found them getting rather harder and older than 

 he liked them, he followed the growing crops northward 

 until he reached the extreme limits of Scotland, where 

 he ended the pea season about the time to take his 

 departure again for Smyrna to again enjoy this delicious 

 vegetable. 



This may be regarded as an apt illustration of one kind 

 of migration, for had our species been born pea-eaters we 

 should no doubt migrate accordingly. 



Many species of birds follow the successive growing 

 crops of wild plants in order to feed upon the fruit or seed ; 

 consequently their extension is dependent upon the dis- 

 tribution of the plants, upon the fruit or seed of which they 



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