1 86 Field and Forest Rambles. 



the tiny ruby crowned kinglet (Regulus calendula), and several 

 small American warblers, in no ways constituted to bear the 

 hardships of the Atlantic, are transported for long distances 

 by means of gales. But, as a general rule, the majority of the 

 wanderers are hardy birds, given to making long and venture- 

 some journeys. 



Taking into consideration the advanced state of our know- 

 ledge of the ornithology of Europe as compared with America, 

 it cannot be expected that the laws which govern the dis- 

 tribution and migrations of its birds will admit of the same 

 exactness as to details ; indeed, it may be said with truth 

 that the study of zoological geography generally is still in 

 its infancy; at the same time, from what has already been 

 accomplished in this department of natural science, there 

 is every cause to expect that the time is not far distant 

 when many of the obscure points in relation to the origin of 

 animated objects will be cleared up by means of more diligent 

 studies in connection with their habits and distribution. 



Reverting to the migrations of the birds of the region 

 under consideration, it will be observed that the majority 

 of the migratory water-fowl of north-eastern America stick 

 more or less to the coast lines on their ways north and 

 south, and keep more together in autumn, for the simple 

 reason that more than half are young and inexperienced 

 birds following the leadership of their parents. This, how- 

 ever, only applies to such birds as are gregarious ; for it is 

 a remarkable circumstance, and one not explicable unless 

 on the belief of inherited instinct, how such a tiny creature 

 as the humming-bird, born in northern Canada, should find 

 its way alone to Mexico and the West Indies. Referring 

 to such birds as breed in regions north of New Brunswick, 

 and winter in the United States, the islands, and Mexico, 

 it is well known, in the cases of snipe, woodcock, geese, 

 ducks, golden plovers, and so forth, that for one seen in 

 spring a dozen or more will be observed in autumn. This 



