1056 The American Naturalist. [December, 
pears, however, that “the forests of Yezo are still intact, except 
where here and there a struggling settlement has broken into 
the forest blanket which covers this noble island. Here are 
great supplies of oak and ash of the best quality, of cercidi- 
phyllum, walnut, fir, acanthopanax, cherry and birch—a store- 
house of forest wealth, which, if properly managed, could be 
drawn upon for all time, and which, if the timber is not 
needed in Japan, may become, when the trans-Asiatic railroad 
is finished, an important factor in the development of southern 
Siberia and some of the treeless countries of central Asia.” 
THE BIRDS OF NEW GUINEA. (MISCELLANEOUS). 
By G. S. MEAD. 
In considering the birds of the tropics or of any portion of 
the tropics, one is apt to suppose that the birds which are seen 
therein at any time may be seen at all times. In other words 
that they are as much fixtures as the trees, that they never 
migrate. While this may be true of a large number of species, 
it is not by any means true of every species, even of land 
birds. 
Our own birds are with usa few months only ; most of them 
at the approach of winter go south where, in tropical lands or 
in low temperate latitudes, they may be found during a longer 
period. The mere migrants—those that pause on their way 
north or south for days only—are not taken into account. 
It is well then to bear in mind two facts: First, that in 
every country migratory birds whose period of stay covers a 
large proportion of the year, are to be met with besides per- 
manent residents; second, that all birds found by travellers 
are not necessarily permanent residents, butin many instances 
transient vistors only. 
Birds of Paradise are said to move from one island of the 
Papuan Archipelago to another, in order to avoid storms or 
stress of weather at certain times of the year. The Nicobar 
