246 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



myriad data recorded in literature methodically according to 

 space and time, and draw from the average figures thus obtained 

 the conclusions relating to the progress of migration ; so much 

 for the past. The new observations must be carried out at all 

 points uniformly, and continued, year after year, according to 

 the same even method. 



But, you will ask me whether I am able to point to the 

 tangibility of the method ? I answer, in the case of our Hungarian 

 method, certainly, and I shall restrict myself to the Swallow > 

 the question is now, what do we know of the spring migration of 

 the Chimney-Swallow in Hungary? 



In 1898 more than five thousand nine hundred masters 

 of elementary schools, and others also, decided to observe the 

 arrival of the Chimney- Swallow, and to report the results of 

 their observations to the H. C. 0. These observers, more than 

 six thousand in number, covered the area of Hungary very well. 

 They sent in their data on special post-cards ; the points of 

 observation were geographically determined, and then each day 

 separately schematized on particular maps. In such a way ,we 

 obtained fifty-four day-maps, each with as many dots as there 

 were points of observation. The result was : — Beginning of the 

 migration, March 10th, 3 points ; culmination, March 30th, 

 343 points ; end, May 2nd, 15 points. Hereby the series in- 

 creases until March 30th, when it culminates, and then it 

 decreases. We see furthermore that the arrivals fluctuated 

 according to the state of the weather ; that the settling of the 

 alpine region began only at the end of April ; that the plain, the 

 hilly portion (Transdanubian district), and the Transylvanian 

 plateau differ with respect to the time of migration ; and that 

 therefore Hungary may be divided into four migration areas. 

 Furthermore, it was remarked that the settling did not take 

 place on narrow routes of migration, also not in a broad front, 

 but that it resembled the scattering of the seed by the sower, 

 where many a seed might be flung this side of or beyond the 

 place for which it was intended. It was, moreover, proved that 

 the mean day of arrival in Hungary for the year 1898 was 

 April 8th, since rectified, on the basis of more than ten thousand 

 data, to April 7th. From these series followed the settling 

 maps, which show that the Swallow settles in Hungary in 



