372 
BIRD-LIFE. 
Mississippi, are, one and all, the highways of birds of 
passage. 
It cannot be said that the “passage” takes place at 
any fixed time during the twenty-four hours, for birds 
travel both by night and by day. In general, one may say 
that those whose journey is least subject to interruption 
or attack, or those who are protected by their numbers 
or rapidity of flight, travel by day; while others proceed 
by night, in company with nocturnal birds. All the weaker 
diurnal emigrants make use of every wood and coppice as 
shelter, while the stronger fly very high. 
Some species migrate singly, some in pairs, others in 
flocks. After breeding time, and long before their 
departure, the different broods unite in bands, which 
gradually merge together into larger flocks. These for 
the most part remain united during the whole voyage, 
separating on their return in like manner as they pre¬ 
viously collected. With some species the sexes migrate 
separately : the females first, the males later, at the 
departure, and vice versa on their return; this makes it 
seem surprising how the different pairs get reunited 
again. 
Not one of our birds of passage ever breeds in foreign 
lands :* they scarcely ever sing there; and when they do 
it is only shortly before their departure, when preparing 
to return homewards. Many moult abroad, however, an 
operation which demands an extra amount of nourish¬ 
ment, such as they find in the richer pastures of their 
* This is scarcely correct. In Messrs. Sharpe and Dresser’s exhaustive work on 
the ‘ Birds of Europe’ (Part 4), circumstantial evidence is given as to the breeding 
of the Red-hacked Shrike in Southern Africa during its winter migration. Mr. 
Sharpe tells us that he has young birds in his collection from this locality; and he 
further informs us that the Quail and other birds also breed in their winter 
haunts. — W. J. 
