The state herald. (Holyoke, Logan County, Colo.) 1887-1921, 1893-02-10
HoNk. HoNxl HoNK, esa
Interesting Facts ~ to tho Journcyini
Of migrating birds.

HoNK! HoNKl HoNKl s:a
| Interesting Facts ~ to tho JourncyinE
Of, Migrating Birds.
sAnother Arctic expedition returned
from the North few days ago. says
the Baltimore Sun. Its arrival was
announced By loud "Honk! Honk!n
far up in tho sky. Itwas composed OF
eleven members and was headed by
n grey veteran. who led his for es ar
ranged In the form OF n letter ".
without the slightest deviation. due
south. 1t was tho wild goose expedi-
ton. which having summerei In tho
Arctic. had decided to winter in more
temperate chimes
1t Is not to BIO supposed that they
reasoned the question OF a change OF
location among themselves consulted
almanacs and time tables or even
compasses TO reach their decision or
decide on thoir course Their action
WINS influenced not by what psycholo.
gists know as higher oerebration. As
the country folks say they felt IL in
their bones that II was iims to move
southwark. and south they went under
tho wonderful influence Of instinct
10 the older philosophers instinct
was u far more powerful thing than
1t appears now. They asserted that
all tho actions OF tho lower animals
wore performed through instinct
and explained that they possessed
this faculty IN lieu OF intelligence.
which was the peculiar attribute Of
man. This was however soon ex-
ploded by tho demonstration OF tho
possession OF intelligence among ami.
mails and Of instinct ~ man. In.
deed. tho latter philosophers have
como 10 beliovo that almost ill tho
actions OF man dre Influenced, II not
controlled by instinct alonc.
The tendency Of migration OF Ger.
lnin species OF animals is plainly no.
'orablo to this hereditary influence.
Originally no doubt migration oc.
CURED because food was more easily
found In one locality than another.
The hereditary MEMORY. 50 10 speak.
pointed out the place whera more
Tood was to be obtained with less cx-
ertion. Gradually other surround
ings suggested themselves as agree.
able I'd tho embryo mind and those
repeated through many generations.
created that un,hinkiug tendency
toward n particular place or climate.
regardless Of Its original fitness.
Almost all our ideas arc gained
rom association. and it Is fair to iiu.
agine that tho constant AMI repeated
association OF n particular locality
with plcasurable sensation tho
satiaton OF hunger for example,
would soon identify tho sensation with
Tho place. Then would DO evolved
The sentiment OF home. sentiment
which We feel only more keenly than
he lower animals because II is ils-
,ocia,ed not only With tho place
where thoro Is something 10 cat but
because OF other plcasurablo sensa.
tions associated with IL ms they arc
constantly found in tho same locality.
Ii Is mistake 10 regard tho migra-
Tory instincts OF animals uncrring.
Every woodsman has observed how a
particular species OF bird Will appar.
entity desert certain locality for an ..
other for ono or moro seasons Oc-
caslonally this may result from
sholce. but It seems more probnb bic
that II In from some mistake on the
part OF tho birds themselves Ihoif
generally accurate course has been
DETECTED by some Renaissance. and
they have made their homo else
whcra. In tho case OF strnyglors thi Is
Is particularly marked. They rarely
succeed in reclining the main body 10
which they originally belonged and
arc forced TO DO content with what.
ever suitable place may DO found,
| Migratory animals md birds are
almost always grcgarlous. that IL.
they live. ind especially iiioy travel,
In compact ilocks or herds They do
this for one rcason only that IN Q
wisdom OF n number Is greater than
that OF any one. Any error In the
route would be detected by ono or
another. and thence communicated
TO tho whole flock. Once in n while
they are NIL mistaken. aud then some
incoming steamer serves MS point Of
rest for ,tc tired little wings or
some hitherto unknown country bs-
comes tho new home OF tho home.
| seekers.
But there IA much that Is very won
irrful and inspiring In tho ia
s,lnct that guides them. II. indeed.
IL Is merely the reflex OF the memory
OF long departed ancestors-li the
thoughts rs well as tho s.hS D! NO
fa.her descend 10 remote generations
what tendencies and inciInations arc
wo transmitting 10 our children
which may In later generations do.
velop 10 rood or owl? Arc We steer.
ing straight course. like tho old
nray Unnsn9