BIRDS. 
22 L 
Violent squalls of wind drive to our coasts several 
sea birds which otherwise would hardly occur to 
us. South-westerly winds in particular are fruit¬ 
ful in this point of view,—the species of Terns , the 
two Petrels , the Little awk , the Phalarope , the 
Black-toed and some other kinds of Gulls are 
instances to illustrate the fact. Again, several kinds 
of birds in passing over sea from northern countries 
to France, Italy, the African shores of the Mediter¬ 
ranean, &c. are driven at times it is presumed by 
the fury of sea winds out of their due course, and 
obligated to seek temporary domiciles in this 
country, the Hawfinch is stated to be an instance 
of this kind, being assailed in its transit by northerly 
or easterly winds, or at least by the violence of 
gales during the autumnal equinox. The same 
thing happens to the Ibis , also an autumnal or 
winter visitor as before spoken of. 
In investigating the Fauna of a locality, attention 
should be paid to the influences of man in his ad¬ 
vances as a civilized being on the natural domains 
of the creatures around him. In agriculture es¬ 
pecially he affects the geographical range of a great 
number of the feathered race, generally by infringing 
on the space and situations assigned them, but 
occasionally also, by inducing them to enlarge the 
boundaries of their habitats. The restrictions on 
the species of rapacious birds, far more useful than 
generally thought, is a deplorable example of this 
merciless persecution on our parts, while the pro¬ 
tections and food supplied to the granivorous birds 
by the operations of tillage, &c. is an instance of 
increased numbers, and increased range excited 
also by ourselves. The great extent to which 
planting is carried, affords shelter, and food (both of 
the vegetable and insect kind) to an increased 
number (perhaps) of species, and certainly of indi¬ 
viduals of kinds of birds originally indigenous. 
