SELBORNE SOCIETY NOTICES 59 
above his head. This bird soars “at least 40,000 feet,” between seven and eight 
miles above the level of the sea, and does so commonly when in search of food. 
The migratory movements of most birds are probably performed at a far 
greater di.stance from the earth than this. Some few species, however, such as 
starlings, larks, and hooded crows, when migrating hardly ever go up beyond 
1,000 feet, and generally keep close to the water. It is difficult to account for 
the enormous velocity of some birds’ flight when migrating. The northern blue 
throat goes at the rate of 540 miles an hour, flying 4,800 miles from Egypt to 
Heligoland in a spring night of barely nine hours, “but have only moderate 
powers of flight.” Virginian plover fly from Labrador to North Hrazil, “9,600 
miles without stopping,” going at the rate of “ 636 miles in an hour, and 
probably more.” How can this speed be attained? It is impossible in the dense 
air near the earth, and consequently the birds resort to great heights where the 
resistance of the air is slight, and where there is a state of calm and but little 
moisture. 
Ic migrating, ring doves and woodcocks, when invisible, sometimes rush 
down with a noise like a rocket ; snipe do this and stop their downward rush 
when only a few feet from the ground. 
These statements can be verified by a perusal of H. Giitke’s “ Heligoland,” 
who.se figures, I believe, have never been controverted. I purposely curtail 
these remarks of mine in order ^to try and induce others to take the matter up, 
and if possible throw more light on a most intricate and difficult subject. 
Market IVeston, Thelforii. Ed.mund Thos. Daubeny. 
February, 1902. 
Bees in Winter. — I see by my diary that bees were visiting the winter 
jessamine on January 23. I am always sorry to find my bees flying about early 
tn the year, for a flight in the cold is the cause of much mortality. This morning 
(February 14) I saw many deaths. There had been a hard frost overnight, the 
wind was north-east, and yet in spite of its freezing in the shade my bees were 
flying about as high as the tops of the trees. Several of them were dead or dying 
on the drive. My bees being plentifully fed are not in want of food : starvation, 
then, is not the cause of their activity. They know that spring is close at hand, 
and are tired of being shut up. Perhaps the mild days we had in January may 
be the reason of more than usual desire to commence work for the year. 
February, 1902. Edmund Thos. Daubeny. 
SELBORNE SOCIETY NOTICES. 
Council Meeting. — The next meeting of the Council will be held at 
20, Hanover Square, W., on Tuesday, March 18, at 5.30 p.m. 
Annual Meeting.— The Annual Meeting and Conversazione will be held 
on Thursday, May 29, from 8 to 11, at 20, Hanover Square, W., the President, 
the Right Hon. Lord Avebury, D.C.L., F.R.S., &c., in the Chair. 
The Council will be glad to have the loan of suitable exhibits for the occasion, 
which will be under the direction of the following gentlemen Botany, Mr. 
L. E. Taylor; Geology, Mr. Ed. A. Marlin, F.G.S. ; Microscopes, Mr. A. 
Holte Macpherson, M.A., F.Z.S. ; Photographs and other pictures, Mr. A. B. 
Wilkinson ; Zoology, Mr. Basil W. Martin, F.Z.S. 
Members and friends willing to assist in this matter are requested to address 
the director of the department in which they wish to exhibit, care of Mr. R. 
Marshman Wattson, Dalmeny House, .Monument Street, E.C. Tickets will be 
ready for issue on April 15, and Branch Secretaries are requested to send their 
applications for members of their branch by that date. 
Members requiring tickets should apply to the local Hon. Sec., or in the 
case of members unattached to branches, to the Secretary, Selborne Society, 
20, Hanover Square, W. A stamped and addressed m ve/ope (not small) must 
accompany each application. 
It is suggested that a Gilbert White exhibition be held in connection with 
this Conversazione, and the Council hope that those possessing any relics asso- 
ciated with the naturalist of Selborne, or copies of the various editions of his works, 
