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and Cuckows may probably perform their Flight in 
half the Time j yet there feems no Neceffity for a 
precipitate Paffage, becaufe every Day's Paffage af- 
fords them Increafe of Warmth, and a Continuance 
of Food a longer Time than is neceffary for their 
Paffage, were it to the fame Latitude South as that 
from whence they came. 
As Providence in many Inftances has guided de- 
fencel-efs Animals to make ufe of the moft neceffary 
Means for their Security, why may not thefe, and 
other itinerant Birds, perform their long Journeys in 
the Night- time, to conceal themfelves from rapa- 
cious Birds, and other Dangers that Day-light expofes 
them tOi which nodturnal Travelling of Birds of 
Paffage I have Reafon to believe more than barely 
probable, from the following Obfervation, which 
may ferve in fome degree to confirm it : 
Lying on the Deck of a Sloop on the North Side 
of Cuba, I, and the Company with me, heard three 
Nights fucceflively Flights of Rice-Birds (their Notes 
being plainly diftinguifhable from others) pafiing 
over our Heads northerly, which is their diredt Way 
from Cuba, and thejSouthern Continent of America r 
from whence they go to Carolina annually at the 
time Rice begins to ripen 5 and, after growing fat 
with it, return South back again. 
The Flight of Birds of Paffage over the Seas has 
by fome been confider’d as a Circumftance equally 
wonderful with other Stories concerning them $ and 
efpecially in regard to thofe with (hort Wings,, 
among which Quails feem, by their Stru&urc, little 
adapted for long Flights 5 nor are they ever fecn to 
continue on the Wing for any Length of Time ,* 
