December 26, 1S84.] 



1#SCIEN6B 



ESJ 



571 



THE COMING OF THE ROBIN AND 

 OTHER EARLY BIRDS. 



" Hast thou fiamed all the birds withoiit a gitn ? 

 Loved the wild-rose, arid left it o?i its stalk ? " 



Emerson. 



The migration of birds is a subject which is 

 attracting much attention in many parts of the 

 world. From earliest historic times, naturalists 

 and philosophers have written, speculated, and 

 theorized upon the periodic appearance and dis- 

 appearance of the species with which they were 

 familiar ; and the coming and going of many were 

 considered of ominous portent. 



In more recent times, ornithologists have 

 watched the movements of birds with increasing 

 interest, and have accurately recorded the facts 

 observed. But it is only within the last few years 

 that any thing like a systematic co-operative at- 

 tempt to study bird-migration has been made. 

 The work was begun in Germany, and was soon 

 afterwards undertaken in Great Britain. In the 

 United States, co-operative work was commenced 

 in the Mississippi valley in the spring of 1882, 

 under the superintendence of Prof. W. W. Cooke. 

 The investigation of this subject was deemed of 

 such importance that the American ornithologists' 

 union, at its first congress, determined to extend it 

 over the whole of North America, and for this pur- 

 pose appointed a special committee. This com- 

 mittee prepared a circular (of which six thousand 

 copies were distributed), setting forth the objects 

 in view, and the methods by which they were to be 

 attained. Through the co-operation of the depart- 

 ment of marine of Canada, and of the lighthouse 

 boards of the United States and Newfoundland, 

 blank schedules were also supplied to the keepers 

 of lighthouses, lightships, and beacons, through- 

 out the whole of North America. The committee 

 has already received returns from nearly a thousand 

 stations, which are scattered over the whole coun- 

 try, extending, in the east, from Sombrero Key, Fla., 

 to Newfoundland, and, in the west, from Arizona 

 and southern California to British Columbia. 



Most birds migrate chiefly by night. In clear 

 weather they fly high, often from one to two miles 

 above the country over which they are passing; 

 while during dark nights, particularly in foggy 

 weather, they often lose the way, become confused, 

 and fly directly toward any light that may chance 

 to lie within the field of vision. Thus, every year 

 many thousands dash themselves to death against 

 lighthouses and lightships. Birds whose summer 



and winter homes are widely separated often 

 shorten their long journeys by crossing great lakes, 

 broad bays, extensive seas, and sometimes even 

 considerable stretches of open ocean ; and obser- 

 vations in various parts of the world, carried on 

 over many years, have demonstrated that the 

 places of crossing are not accidental, but that 

 certain definite courses are followed season after 

 season with surprising regularity and precision. 

 These 'avenues' or Mines' of migration, though 

 most strongly marked in aquatic, marsh, and river- 

 dwelling species, are not limited to the neighbor- 

 hood of large bodies of water, but may be traced 

 throughout the entire range of migration. It is 

 also well known that in nearly all birds the same 

 individuals return to identical localities year after 

 year. 



The following statement of the times of arrival 

 of the robin (Merula migratoria) at various places 

 will serve to show in a general way the progress 

 of its advance over the greater part of North 

 America during the spring of 1884. 1 



Our common robin winters in vast numbers as 

 far north as North Carolina, and more sparingly 

 in southern New England, New York, and even 

 in southern Ontario north of Lake Erie. On its 

 northward journey, Dr. Wheaton's observers in 

 the middle-eastern district found it at Columbus, 

 O., Feb. 13; Cleveland, O., Feb. 24; Petersburg, 

 Mich., Feb. 19; Battle Creek and Locke, Mich.. 

 March 10; Sault St. Marie, April 1. In the Atlan- 

 tic district, Dr. Fisher's returns show it at Long- 

 Island City, N.Y., Feb. 10; Sing Sing, N.Y., Feb. 

 14; Lockport, N.Y., Feb. 16; Watertown, N.Y., 

 March 13; Lake George, N.Y., March 20; Ham- 

 mondville (near Lake Champlain), N.Y., March 24 : 

 Boonville, N.Y., March 21 ; Locust Grove, N.Y., 

 March 25. In Ontario, Mr. Mcllwraith reports it 

 at Hamilton, March 17; and at Ottawa, March 14. 

 In New England a few wintered in the southern 

 portions, and their march northward was irregular 

 and often interrupted. Mr. Sage's observers re- 

 corded them from East Hartford, Conn., Feb. 2 : 

 Greenfield, Mass., Feb. 3 ; Thetford, Vt., Feb. 22 ; 

 Hanover, N.H., March 21 ; Waterborough, Me.. 

 March 23 ; Calais, Me., March 30 : Moosehead 

 Lake, Me., April 9. In Quebec and the maritime 

 provinces, Mr. Chamberlain's report shows them 

 at Montreal, March 30; Quebec, April 14: Grand 

 Menan Island, March 10; Halifax, March 18: 



1 These data, by permission of the council of the American orni- 

 thologists' union, have been selected from a part of the returns on the 

 species named. 



