48 
Birds of Celebes: Falconidae. 
To explain the returning migration in spring other motives than hunger 
must he looked for: it is evident that no diminution of food takes place in 
warm climates at this time of the year, but rather the opposite. It is, however, 
possible to argue that the influx of northern migrants overstocks these regions, 
rendering breeding there more inconvenient than in more northern climes, which 
now also offer a plentiful food sujjply. This reason goes hand in hand with 
another one, the remembrance of, and attachment for, the old breeding quarters. 
Many birds will not forsake their nesting sj)ot, as almost every field-naturalist 
knows from exjjerience, even after their eggs or young have been taken and 
nest destroyed; and a pair of the same species — probably, as a rule, the same 
identical pair^) — return year by year to the same spot, even to the same tree 
or bush. 
The Grey-faced Buzzard-eagle has as yet been recorded only from the 
Northern Peninsula of Celebes, — Gorontalo and the Minahassa. So, likewise, 
Tachyspizias soloensis and Ninox scutulata japonica have been recorded only from 
North Celebes. These are also migratory species, which descend in the winter 
from China apjjarently, and reaching North Celebes via the Philippine Islands 
1) Some curious oases, showing that it need not follow that it is always the identical pair- of parent 
birds, which returns to the same spot, are recorded by Sec b ohm in the case of the Merlin 'Falco aesulon). 
A pair of these birds was found breeding on a certain bank and were killed ; nevertheless for several succeed- 
ing years other pairs of these birds always made their appearance and tried to rear their young on the 
same bank, though one or both birds were killed off evoi-y season (British Birds 1883, I, 3S). The only way, 
as Seebohm thinks, by which these facts may be accounted for, is on the supposition that Merlins have 
certain recognised breeding haunts, which are seized upon by a pair out of a jiarty in iviigration, provided 
the former owners are not already in possession. This may be the case; but it appears to us more probable 
that the birds, which attempted to nest at the spot, were the young which had been reared there some years 
earlier and had been expelled from their native haunt by the their parents (or possibly by the more courageous 
members of the household), the usual occui-reuce among birds of prey and probably among other birds. 
An interesting case in this connection has been communicated to us from personal observation by 
Mr. W. Schnuse of Dresden, A pair of Storks had nested for a few years on the top of a disused tall chimney 
in the village of Walteruienhurg, Province of Saxony. In i894, three young ones were roared, and the birds 
left for the winter. Next spring, two Storks, evidently the parents, retm-nod and took possession of the old 
nest. A day or two afterwards three other Storks arrived and tried to occupy the nest, and tremendous 
fights took place every day for at least a week for its possession. The three (apparently the young of the 
former year), which roosted at night on an old disused nest on the parsonage about 200 yards off, at length 
relinquished their efforts. It is a pity that no one seems to have taken the trouble to amass facts of this 
description. 
Since the above remarks w-ere made, Prof. Newton’s thoughtful considerations on the question have 
appeared (Diet. B. pt. II, 1893, 555), and may w-ell be inserted here. “When we consider the return move- 
ment which takes place some six months later, doubt may he entertained whether scarcity of food can be urged 
as its sole or sufficient cause, and perhaps it would be safest not to come to any decision on this point. On 
one side it may he urged that the more equatorial regions which in winter are crowded with emigrants from 
the north, though well fitted for the resort of so great a population at that season are deficient in certain 
necessaries for the nursery. Nor does it seem too violent an assumjition to suppose that even if such ne- 
cessaries are not absolutely wanting, yet that the regions in question would not su2)ply sufficient food for both 
parents and offspring — the latter being, at Uio lowest computation, twice as numerous as the former — unless 
the numbers of both w-ere diminished by the casualities of travel. But on the otlier hand we must remember 
w-liat has been advanced in regard to the pertinacity with which Birds return to their accustomed breeding- 
places, and tliR force of this passionate fondness for the old home cannot but bo taken into account, even if 
w-e do not allow that in it lies the whole stimulus to undertake the perilous voyage". 
