Year: 1876

IL ~ remhfkaDle faCt INV '"c 'e
turn Of some birds is so regular that
they vary hardly more than single
day, and return promptly to the old
nest Of the previous year. Some go
from the equator to the arctic circle,
travelling high IN the air in the dark
est nights, when all landmarks Of the
earth must he entirely shut out from
view, and yet moving on through ths
pitchy darkness almost exactly in a
line North. Here is faculty possess
ed by these birds Of which we know
nothing. No mariner, however expe-
rienced, would venture out Of sight of
land without chart or compass, espe-
cially on densely dark and tempest
uous night. But all seasons and hours
seem the same to these adventurous
navigators of the air.


On the other side Of the equator, in
the Southern hemisphere, they do pre-
cisely the same, going from arctic re-
gions to the tropics, and returning; so
that bird nature seems alike over the
whole world.


The cause Of this regular migration
is not fully determined. Some have
regarded it as owing to change Of sea-
son and scarcity Of food in the coun-
tries from which they come. But a
bird in the cage always shows a de
gree Of restlessness at the time Of the
migration Of other birds, showing that
il is by an instinct Of their nature
that they change their residence.


The affection Of birds for their
young, is a most beautiful trait OF
character, and in some instances this
affection is fully reciprocated by the
young bird.


II is said that the stork retains its
affection for its parents to the close Of
life. After the relations Of the nest
are broken up, they will feed and pro-
tect them in their old age, as they
were protected and fed by them in
their youth.


A remarkable instance of devotion
to their young is recorded Of the stork
in Delft, Holland, that had built her
nest in a roof Of dwelling that took
fire. As the heat increased, the stork
was distinctly seen endeavoring TO
protect her young by her wings, bu,
to no purpose. 1t was supposed by
bysianders that when the flame reach
cd the nest the old stork would aban-
don il and her brood. Not so. Al
though there was every opportunity
afforded for escape by the gradually
approaching flames. yet the noble bird
continued to spread her wings over her
nest, until the fierce fame consumed
her feathers. and left exposed her bare,
fealherless body TO the consuming
heat, and sull the torture could not
drive her from her helpless young, and
she peri,hed with them in the nest.


We have all observed how fiercely
the timid bird or fowl will attack an
enemy approaching her nest or her
young. As this courage is only tenn
porary, and all vanishes with the full
growth and departure OF the young,
we must conclude it is a special and
providential endowment, without
which, the young would not be pro-
tected and reared.


Birds show themselves capable, also,
of strong attachment to their mates.
The black pigeon of oriental countries,
when its mate dies, refuses all associa-
ton with Others and remains minated
for the rest Of life.


A male canary. while singing to his
mate on the nest, suddenly tell dead.
The female Immediately left her eggs,
and finding him dead, refused all food,
and, without once returning TO the
nest, remained near him, until she,
too, died. Here was, seemingly, sfiec-
tion as strong as human heart could
cherish.