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the Line to many parts of Europe, which Monf. de BufFon cal- 

 culates may be done in about eight or nine days f . 



If the paffage happened in half the nights of the year which 

 have the benefit of moonlight, the birds would be difcovered by 

 the failors almoft as well as in the day-time ; to which I mult add 

 that feveral fuppofed birds of paffage (the Fieldfare in particular), 

 always call when on their flight, fo that the feamen muft be deaf 

 as well as blind, if fuch flocks of birds efcape their notice. 



Other objections however remain to this hypothecs of a paffage 

 during the night. 



Moll; birds not only deep during that time, but are as much 

 incapacitated from diftinguifhing objects well as we are in the ab- 

 le nee of the fun : it is therefore inconceivable that they mould 

 choofe owl-light for fuch a diftant journey. 



Befides this, the Eaftern coaft of England, to which birds of 

 paffage muft neceflarily firft come from the continent, hath many 

 light-houfes upon it ; they would therefore, in a dark night, im- 

 mediately make for fuch an object, and deftroy themfelves by 

 flying with violence againft it, as is well known to every bat- 

 fowler. 



■ 



Having endeavoured to anfwer thefe two fuppofitions, by which 

 it is contended that birds of paffage may efcape obfervation in 

 their flight ; I mail now confider all the inftances I have been 

 able to meet with of any birds being actually feen whilft they 

 were croffing any extent of fea, though I might give a very fhort 

 refutation to them, by infifting, that if this was ever experienced, 

 it muft happen as conftantly in a fea which is much navigated, 



f In the preface to the firft volume of his lately publilhed Ornitholo- 

 gy, p. 32. Brown fuppofes, however, that a hawk had purfued a 

 woodcock at no greater rate than 30 miles in an hour. Treatife on 

 Falconry, 1608. 



as 



