Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1884-03-01

sents itself to scientific research.
Birds generally migrate during the
spring and fall, so that there Is a
continual ebb OF the feathery tribes
during these seasons. As spring adj
vances, the birds gradually work
their way from the region of the
south, whence they had gone to es-
cape the rigor OF our blasting win
ter, and arrive here to cheer us with
their carols aud make the summer
more pleasant and delightful. The
visits Of these birds depend greatly
upon the state Of the weather, which
appears to retard or hasten their
fight, as the season may be. Thus
1t Is that some of our summer birds
arrive before others, the latter being
detained by uniavorable weather. 1t
is singular fact that the male birds
generally appear first, as IL in search
of some suitable spot, to which they
may bring their mates. In coming
back to the northland it frequently
happens that birds locate in the very
spot they habitated the previous
summer: which the chill and frost Of
winter caused them to forsake.
This has been ascertained by catch
ing and In some way marking them,
and upon the return Of the next mi
gratory season, the identical birds
again occupy their old nests.
1t has also been observed that GER
tain migrating birds do not leave
their summer home unless the win
ter is to be one of unusual severity.
This fact is surprising and the ques-
ton: "By what means is the bird in
structed as to the coming season ?"
naturally presents itself, but remains
unanswered. "What their instinc-
tive knowledge is, or whether they
have the power to reflect upon the
phenomena surrounding them, will
probably always be mystery to us;
but we can trace out in this the same
arrangement of a experimenting
Providence, by which creatures SO
small and Insignificant in the scale
of creation are directed to The eli
mate most favorable to them, and
speed to another climate just when
a longer tarry in the one they inhabit
would prove fatal to their lives"
sswhen the Northern Ocean, In vast
whirls,
Boils round the naked, melancholy
isles
OF furthest Thule, and Atlantic's surge
Pours in among the stormy Hebrides;
Who can recountwhat transmlgrations
there
Are annual made? whatnations come
and go?
And how the living crowds on crowds
Infinite wingsl tin all the plume
dark air,
And rude resounding shore are one
wild cry"
When the SHOWS of winter disap
pear, and the winds of February are
at play, the blue birds and robins re-
turn to us, and later on swallows
doves. blackbirds, wrens, ETC., sport
amid the budding trees and flutter
in the unfettered brooks and rivulets.
The flight of birds has been esti-
mated at $50 miles an hour, though
some heavy birds scarcely exceed
80 miles an hour. In order to fly
with ease and continue long on the
wing, birds must hy against the
wind, and long and patiently do they
wait for a favorable opportunity. A
sudden change In the windhas often
caused thousands Of quails, which
are heavy Of flight, to perish In the
Mediterranean Sea. Yet there are
some sea-faring birds 80 wonderfully
endowed that they can remain al
most continually on the wing, and
have been found 1000 miles from
land. The gigantic Albatross Is one
OF these, with its tremendous stretch
of wing, sometime measuring "A feet
and more from tip to tip. But the
bird which surpasses all others In its
power of flight is the frigate- bird
| which, we are told, seldom ever Wis
its land, except in breeding season.
and is never seen to swim or rest on
the water.
"Most birds perform their migra
tions during the night, but there are
some that travel by day, and Others
which neither stop during day o.
night. Among the first are the owl
blackbird, etc. and great number
OF aquatic birds; among those that
travel by day are the crow, golddnch
wren, ood-pecker, lark, swallow