MIGRATION AND FLIGHT. 
89 
smooths them down,) are chiefly natives of a few islands in 
the Indian Ocean, and when sailing between these islands, 
flocks of them are often seen crossing, and always flying 
against the wind : hut as in that climate sudden squalls often 
occur from an opposite quarter, the birds, when caught by 
them, are observed immediately to dart upwards till they 
ascend beyond the reach of the gale, and are then seen to 
pursue their course as before. 
One other very remarkable fact connected with these long 
journeys undertaken by birds over seas and lands, is that 
they are gifted with some secret power, enabling them not 
only to find their way to and from the distant countries they 
visit, hut actually guiding them to the very same place from 
whence they came, and the very same spots for building their 
nests. This has been proved by marking the claws of 
Swallows, which were in the habit of building in sheds or 
outhouses, where they could easily be retaken on their return 
in the spring, and examined. An instance came under our 
own observation, of a pair of Swallows returning to build for 
three years in a small closet in a school-house, entering by a 
broken pane in the casement, and forming their nest in a 
corner above the window ; and as they were never disturbed, 
the female would remain sitting, and the male fly in and out 
in our presence. But though several broods were hatched, 
the old birds allowed no intruders, and not a single young 
bird was ever seen to return to the place of its birth after it 
had once quitted the nest. 
Another instance of confidence placed in man by these 
little birds, when unmolested, occurred at a nobleman’s house 
in Scotland. A pair of Swallows, a few years ago, built their 
nest upon the top bar of a clothes- screen in the porter’s lodge, 
which was hung up against the wall ; the young ones were 
hatched and flew away ; the nest was suffered to remain ; and 
upon the first appearance of Swallows, the year after, a male 
bird again entered the apartment, and took a survey of the 
premises. Having satisfied himself, he went off, hut soon 
returned with a companion, which at first appeared very shy 
and timid, hut in a short time acquired as much assurance 
