MIGEATIONS OF ETJEOPEAN BIEDS. 
329 
in Central Africa^ to return in spring to a farm-yard in the 
midland counties of England ; and still more wondrous_, as 
recorded in Yarrelhs British Birds/^ that several swifts^ 
undeniably marked^ returned not only for three years in suc- 
cession^ but one of the number was caught in the same locality 
at the expiration of seven years. Here_, then^ are displayed 
effects of memory and perception — in fine^ a wondrous mani- 
festation of intellect which^ under the vague name of instinct 
(that is_, a natural bhnd impulse acting without the interven- 
tion of reason) has been apphed_, we think^ too indiscriminately 
to such-like mental phenomena among the lower animals. 
However^ a few deep-thinking philosophers of the present 
day accord reasoning powers to the brute animal as well as 
man ; and surely it can be no insult to the vastly superior 
intelligence of the latter to have to allow that the brute shares 
finitely what he enjoys in an infinite degree. None of the 
eagles of Europe seem to cross the great inland sea^ or per- 
form regular migrations. The osprey and Peregrine falcon 
wander over the south of Europe and North Africa in increased 
numbers during the winter months. Flocks of honey-buz- 
zards^ orange-legged falcons^ and lesser kestrels_, together with 
numbers of marsh harriers^ kestrels_, sparrow-hawks^ and in a 
less proportion the hobby_, merlin_, and Montagues and Swain- 
son-’s harriers^ follow the migratory birds to and from Africa 
— some in hot pursuit of the warblers and quail^ which they 
feed on when they cannot procure more choice food. Thus 
flocks of hawks may be seen hovering over the fields in springs 
and along the southern shores of the Mediterranean^ where 
the bir’ds of passage are assembhng before they commence 
their voyage northwards, — all driven hence by the hot blasts 
of the desert which, under such local names as harmattan, 
sirocco, kamsin, simoom, and samiel, soon wither verdure, 
and compel birds of passage to turn their faces northwards, 
and fly with all speed to more genial climes. A naval officer 
informed us that one spring evening, when a hundred miles 
off the coast of Africa, the rigging of his vessel was covered 
by small birds, which were seen arriving in scattered flocks 
from the south ; among them were many hawks and a few 
small-sized owls, possibly the Scopes eared owl, which migredes 
in great numbers at that season. No sooner had the little 
birds settled down on the yards than the hawks commenced to 
prey on them, and were seen actually devouring’ their captives 
within a few yards of the officers, who attempted to put a 
stop to the slaughter by shooting the depredators, but in vain ; 
they continued pursuing the unfortunate small bh’ds from rope 
to yard-arm and around the vessel, until night put an end to 
the scene, when friend and foe went to roost, and at break of 
day all sped their way northwards. 
