The Flight of Birds. 235 



With wild swans and geese one might suppose the former 

 guided by the whoop or whistle of their leaderj and the 

 latter by the well-known " honk," as soldiers by word of 

 command. But no such note seems to direct the move- 

 ments of either starling, or lapwing, in their wheelings 

 and turnings. Then what does ? A question, so far as 

 I am aware, unanswered, if answerable. Will electricity 

 explain it — some biological chain of mind or instinct, 

 binding the birds together, and acting on all simul- 

 taneously, or with that rapidity by which the electric fluid 

 runs along the wires ? 



Whatever be the nature of this singular and unex- 

 plained phenomenon, it is not alone confined to birds. 

 Quadrupeds also give illustration of it, as often witnessed 

 in cattle on the American prairies. A herd of a thousand, 

 or more, will be tranquilly browsing — perhaps lying down 

 quietly chewing their cud — when, presto ! all spring up 

 together, and start off in stampede, as if each and all 

 had been stung by gadflies at the self-same instant of 

 time. 



Every one who has been to sea must have observed 

 " schools " of fish — herrings or mackerel — act in a similar 

 fashion ; while in the insect world we have many examples 

 of the same — notably among ants, and bees at their 

 hiving time. How little do we yet know of nature's 

 workings, even of those that are every day, and in clear- 

 est daylight, under our very eyes ! 



