Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1915-06-11

IIlRF1IE& Hill there is such little real under
IInl ukSw II|I standing to the nature and
IlUk&SH344llI methods of this remarkable phe-
Iel3@olI nomenon. Theories are plen.
tiful, but a demonstrable expla-
nation of all the facts involved is still wanting
some or the inherent characteristics Of migra-
ltion. such as the apparent sense of direction
possessed by birds. seem to defy observation
and analysis. and to be absolutely beyond our
ken 80 far as any understanding goes The
cause itself OF this curious habit so far is only
con1ectural. but the most logical explanation
seems to be a search for food. This apparently
holds good for the fall fight from North to
South. when insects have perished from the cold.
land vegetation died, SO that both insectvorous
and grain-eatng birds are alike affected Yet
some members Of both species, crows. jas quail
lpartrfdges, wood ducks, cardinal grosbeaks 1.-THE
ordinary red bird) and often some red.headed
woodpeckers remain North throughout the win.
ter and manage somehow to make a living and
lperpetuate their species
Even II these be exceptions to the general rule
there still remains the unanswered question Wby
40 not those birds who winter in the South re-
main there throughout the year instead of going
North when the spring opens? Food is abundant
and apparently southern latitudes are as fitting
ior the rearing OF young as the far North As
patter OF fact, we really do not know though
we nave some interesting and plausible theories
ABOUT 1t that do not bear the test of questioning
so as usual when We run across some mystery in
animal life that cannot unravel we cali II
instinct and let 1t go at that. OF this one
thing we may. however, be quite sure. that in
stinct In animals always serves some useful Dur.
pose' and is usually an expression of natures
care for the preservation OF the species.
fears OF observation have developed the inter.
estlng Iact tnat there are certain well-deined
routes IN all countries which the migrations
1oilow. certain water courses. certain chains of
IN Inc nnrfof
OBTAIN from one generation of birds to another
Whether the younger birds learn this from the
older birds who have been BEFORE or whether
they simply mechanically follow the older birds
In their flights is largely conjecture but two
facts seem well established. First, that animals
evidently have some method of communicating
with each other. Everyone who has heard Bob
White call together the scattered covey or the
hen give the alarm for hawk to her chickens, is
convinced on this point. The second fact seems
however, 70 Rontrovert the theory of the older
teaching. the younger ones the way they should
go. for 1t has been shown ir many instances
that hocks composed entirely of the years broods
OF young birds make their first migratory fight
alone and unattended by the older birds and find
their way unerringly along the usual routes of
Once more we have to fall back upon
instinct
Just how birds find their way from one distant
latitude to another is the most inexpcable Of
all the many mysterious facts Of migration. The
length of the flight from northern habitat to
southern winter resort varies according to the
different species of birds all the way from 1000
to 1900 miles. and in a few cases to 5000 miles,
Yet these distances are apparently traversed in
generally direct straight lines and with the most
orderly and businesslike methods of procedure
To say that the older birds show the younger
birds the way (since this has been shown to be
untrue in many cases) only removes the difficulty
back into the remote past, for at some time
there had to be some birds to find the way the
first time. and we only dodge this difficulty when
we talk Of inherited instinct.
It is clearly not a case of birds seeing their
way and being guided by landmarks. It is known
that migrations as a rule take place at night. and
that In general birds fly very high, in fact, at
tremendous heights. when migrating. Under
such conditions finding their way by sight is i'm
possible Moreover. the sight theory breaks down
in the Of those birds who cross great
stretches of water where there no landmarks
whatever. TheSe is a species Of cuckoo which
summers in New Zealand and winters in eastern
Australia. which means a straight flight Of some
roo miles without rest or stop across the track
ess waters. Certain species of humming birds
hat winter in Central and South America spend
heir summer vacation in the United States and
o do must fly across some 1000 miles of the
iulf Of Mexico
recent experiment demonstrated that neither
he theory seeing the way nor previous know
,dge of the route can account for the finding of
he way in migration. Fifteen terms were taken
rom their nesting places on Bird Key. Tortugas
one Of the islands Of the Florida reef and were
eleased at distances varying from 20 to $50
niles from their home, and 12 of the Is found
heir way back safely. Observations have also
hown that the same birds return to the same
pot year after year. Robins that winter i'm
florida will build their nests in the same tree
n a northern state as long as they live An ex-
lantation which is in much favor is the probable
Of a sixth sense-the sense Of direc-