390 
BIRD-LIFE. 
they went. The impulse on the return is then so exceed¬ 
ingly strong as sometimes to drive them beyond the 
limits of their homes. Faber saw Swallows arrive in 
Iceland, where they spent some little time, but did not 
breed, and soon disappeared again; Hoopoes are seen at 
Drontheim and on the Loffoden Islands; Bee-eaters in 
Germany, England, Denmark, and Scandinavia; American 
and Siberian Thrushes occur in Northern Europe; and 
with us other examples have been noted, where birds 
have gone beyond their usual circle of distribution. 
Undoubtedly the inclination to pair at this season hastens 
the return journey, and possibly occasions such useless 
extension of the same. 
In most points the homeward voyage appears to be 
prosecuted in a similar manner to the outward bound one. 
Those birds which leave us in pairs return in pairs; 
many, like Larks, Thrushes, Nightingales, Whitethroats, 
Blue-throated Warblers, Chats, and others, sing at every 
resting-place on the road; and one and all make as much 
haste as they can. In short, the return is a matter 
of greater interest than the departure. Gradually the 
north, so deserted in winter, gains new life, old friends 
return to their habitations, and everything goes on again 
as usual. 
Are these birds, however, which have just returned, the 
same individuals which left us: have they been really 
able to find their old homes again ? I answer from con¬ 
viction—yes: they are assuredly the same birds which 
seek out their former nesting-places. This is proved by 
their behaviour on their arrival in spring, to which I have 
already referred. Storks take such decided possession of 
the old nest on their return, that one cannot doubt for a 
moment that it does not by right belong to them, or that 
