The Autuvin Migration. 63 



to the nest. In attempting to take hold of it, they again and 

 again nearly lost their balance. On another occasion, the 

 mother bird, trying this plan to no purpose, seemed to lose 

 patience, and seizing one of them by the lower mandible, with 

 the claw of her right foot, whilst it was gaping for food, tried 

 to pull it out of the nest, to which, however, it clung like a 

 squirrel. But the young, every one of them, fly in time, and a 

 right joyous holiday they all have together. 



So the summer comes to an end ; and towards the middle of 

 September, the great family cares being over, and the young 

 having attained to an age capable of undertaking the fatigues 

 of migration, that mysterious impulse, strong as life itself, and 

 probably affecting them like some sickness — the necessity to 

 exchange one country and climate for another — comes upon 

 them. Under this influence, they congregate together in 

 immense numbers, every neighbourhood seeming to have its 

 place of assembly — ^the roofs of lofty buildings, or the leafless 

 boughs of old trees : here they meet, not only to discuss the 

 great undertaking, but to have a right merry time together— 

 a time of luxurious idleness, lively chatterings, singing in 

 chorus their everlasting and musical clicep, cheep, eating and 

 drinking, and making ready for the journey before them. 



At length the moment of departure is come, and at a given 

 signal the whole party rises. Twittering and singing, and 

 bidding a long farewell to the scenes of their summer life, they 

 fly off in a body, perhaps, if coming from Scotland, or the 

 north of England, to rest yet a few weeks in the warmer 

 southern counties ; after which, a general departure takes place 

 to the sunny lands of Africa. 



