The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-08-07
THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS.

ltors. The former gradually Work ther way, d.
the season advances, from the warm South
where they have enjoyed food and sunshine
and arrive here 10 cheer us with their songs
and make our summer months still more de
lightful. The latter, being inhabitants oil the
arctic circle, and finding In the forests and mo
rasses of that region a sufficient supply OF iooC
in summer, are only led to quit their homes
when the early winter begins TO bind up th'
lakes and surisye of the earth, and to deprive
{ them of their yustenance. 1t is then that they
seek our milder Shores and, accordingly. at The
season when our summer visltants are leaving
us TO proceed on their journey southwards,
these songless inhabitants OF the north arrive to
take their places, and to feed on such winter
fruits and berries, and such insects and aquatic
plants as are denied TO their own nhospltable eli
mate. These visitors, though mute, are OF no
mean value, for many OF them are considered
delicate food and, in consequence, the red
wing, fiedfare, woodcock, snipe, wldgeon, &c.,
are wont to receive homage and admiration
from those who could listen TO the sweet war
blings of the nightingale or the tender coolngs
ofthe turtle dove with perfect indifference.
! IT. ~;a;;sof these birds as wel asN those
| from the south, depend greatly on the state OF
lheweather. which appears " hasten or retard
|
| often find that few of our summer birds leave
| the main body, and arrive sooner than the rest,
while the others have been kept back by a sud-
den return of unfavorable weather, according
to the adage, 4" One swallow does not make a
summer" 1t is singular fact that the early
corners are male birds, arriving, as it would
seem, in search of a fit spot into which TO in
troduce their mates. The bird-catchers are
Of THO nd thairt rat, ooonrd,nn
ly, so that nightingales and other singing birds
are often shared on their first arrival, and spend
the short remainder of their lives in captivity.
Many birds return not only to the same country,
but to the very spot they left in the preceding
season, fact which has been ascertained by
catching and marking some of them, while 9th
ers do not confne themselves to particular
country, but range from one country 10 another,
as circumstances may dictate.
1t has been observed that migratory birds do
not leave their summer abode, unless the win
ter is one of unusual severity This fact is
surprising, and the question, So BY what means
is the bird instructed as to the coming season "
naturally presents itself to the mind, but still
remains unanswered.
Most birds perform their migrations during
the night but there are some that travel only
Ny udy anu OthCiS tiidt ny night uOi
day. Among the first are the owl, black bird
Sc, and a great number of aquatic birds
among those that travel by day, are the crow,
pie, ttmouse, wren, wood pecker, chaffnch,
goldfnch, swallow, lark, and some others and
of those which do not intermit their flight are
the wag- tail, heron, yellow hammer, stOrk,
crane, plover, swan, and wild goose. These
ohoooo a A~ssht 4onsigh, eeason in which &c
| set out on their ioufney
| The flight of birds has been estimated from
fifty to one hundred and fifty miles per hour
! though some heavy birds scarcely exceed thirt,
miles an hour. Bishop Stanley mentions, in hi
Familiar History of Birds" an easy way b,
which the flight of birds may be determine'
with tolerabe accuracy. Surprising any bird
partridge, for instance-should rise from tn
middle OF stubble, and fly straight line owe
hedge, all the observer has TO do is TO not
by the seconds hand Of watch the number o
seconds between the birds rising and that of it
topping the hedge; and then ascertain the dis
lance between the point from whence it ros
and the hedge, by stepping, counting the mum
Der Of PAGES; when, supposing each pace to b.
yard, we have common rule oi-three sum
Thus, ifa partridge in three seconds flies on
hundred yards, how many yards will II fly II
5000 seconds, or one hour2
Another method of aScertaining the flight o
birds is by carrier pigeons. The same autho
tells us of recent instance, IN which ffty-si,
of these birds were brought over from Holland
and set at liberty in London. They We're turn
ed out at half past four O'Clock in the morning
and all reached their dove cots at home by noon
but one iavorite pigeon, called Napoleon
arrived about quarter before ten O'Clock
having performed the distance Of three hun
dred miles at the rate of above three hundred
miles an hour, suppoSing he lost not a moment
and proceeded in straight line; but, as they
usually wheel about in the air for some time
before they start, the first bird must have flown
most likely, at still quicker rate.
OF all migrating birds, cranes may be consid
cred the most remarkable. They seem to be en-.
bowed with foresight, and have the appearance
OF consultation and regular preparation for the
time Of therdeparture They peculiar erie.
several days before and assemble with much
noise and hustle. They then form themselves n
to two lines, making an angle, at the vortex o
which one of their number, who is looked upor
as the general director Of their proceedings
takes his place. The office of the leader seem.
to be to exercise authority and issue orders TO the
whole party, to guide them in inclement wealth
er in their circllng flight to give the signal fol
their descent, feeding, SC. Piercing cries ar,
heard, as if commanding and answering to tn,
command. 1.-THE leader grows tired, his plac,
is taken by the bird next him, while he retire
to the end of the line ; and thus their orderl,
flight is accorapkshe
In order that BIRDS may fly with ease and con
tnue long on the wing, they must fly agains
the wind; and patiently do they wait for IA
vorable time in this respect. The sudder
change of the wind will sometimes cause mum
, bers of quails, which are heavy in their flight
TO de drowned in crossing the Mediterranean
sea. Yet there are certain seaiaring birds Sc
wonderfully endowed as to remain almost con
tinually on the wing, and which are often found
1.-THE distance gilmore than thousand miles from
land. The gigantic albatross is one of these
with its enormous expanse of wing, measuring
fourteen feet, or even more, from up to tip
But the bird which surpasses all others in II,
power of flight is the frigate bird, which seldom
visits the land except at the breeding season
and is never seen TO swim or rest upon the wa
tiers. With such an instance of adaptation e
the regions of the air, we need no longer won
| der at the power by which our birds are enabled
to remain SO long on the wing as to perform
their periodical migration TO other lands.
Ii has been observed that the least willow
wren and the stone ,curlew generally appeal
amongst us during the last week in March
while the following birds are not often with u,
till from about the l4th to the 10Th Of April
the nightingale, black-cap, chimney swallow
red-start, yellow willow-wren, gnsshopper
lark, martlet, and pied fly catcher. AT tke enc
of April and the beginning Of May are seen tn,
lesser red-sparow, cuckoo, sand martin. grea
willow wren, spotted fly catcher, black martin
and landrail; while, about the middle of May
the swift and the goat sucker or iern-owl, usu
ally join the throng.
"Ye tell tale Of the beautiful earth
Birds that o'ersvoep Il In power and mirth!