FRANK M. CHAPMAN. 185 
continuing on his course toward Florida. The second and 
concluding point I wish particularly to emphasize, for it 
seems to have escaped the attention of annotators. The 
records we have so hastily reviewed leave no room for doubt 
that during the entire voyage no events proved a greater 
source of encouragement to the venturesome mariners than 
these flights of migratory birds; but do they not derive a 
new significance when we remember that the migration from 
the Bermudas southward is practically concluded by No- 
vember rst? After nearly twenty years of disappointment, a 
delay of ten days at Palos would not have seemed of much 
importance, But if Columbus had sailed from Palos Sep- 
tember 16th, or, using the “new style,” September 26th, he 
would have seen few migratory land-birds, or none. 
Whether, in their absence, he would have had sufficient in- 
fluence over his men to force them to continue a westward 
course, is an open question; but we can clearly see that, 
without the presence of birds, his efforts at allaying their 
fears would have been seconded by no really. conclusive 
signs of land, 
