THE NATURALIST.

Otago Witness, Issue 2661, 15 March 1905, Page 72

THE NATURALIST.

Migration of Bird«. This ;s; s at all times a topic fraught with much interest. To the naturalist it is a matter he never wearies of studying, and even the most callous among us cannot but ba struck with the instinct which impels ou.- feathered friends to negotiate twice a year a journey which for mere man would mean an up-to-date express train and a twentieth century ocean-going steamer. With these latter day adjuncts of modern civilisation the smart traveller of the day makes a journey in from a week to four weeks, according to distance, bub the same journey would b© performed by a single migrating bird in a period of time represented by hour? only. The migrating bird, too, has no new machinery, no new electric or other motor power to speed it on its way, it uses its wings only, and, guided by unerring instinct, steers its course without compass or chart, and iands exactly where it wishes to. It is wonderful when we think of all this, and it proves beyoixl dispute that no new improvements are reeded, but that th© bird is simply perfect to-day as it was centuries ago — a remark that applies with full force to all the handiwork of the Creator. Not everyone is aware, though, of the extent to which this migration goes on. We all know that the cuckoo, the swallow, the swift, martin, field fare, woodcock, and many others go and come to our shores regularly every season ; but according to recent observers, nearly all feathered creation is migratory to a greater or less extent. Which simply means that the thrushes, skylarks, blackbirds, and even starlings we see around us at all times of the year arc given to a change of habitation annually. Thus th© birds present one season are not, as a rule, the ones present the =oason before, nor will they be present the season following. Professor Denny tells us that immense numbers of skylarks pour into England each autumn from Scandinavia, and Central Europe. The same authority tells u-3 they all quit our shores again and go back whence they came. Much th© same sort of thing goes on among the thrushes, starlings, and blackbirds, while even, the sparrow betakes himself occasionally from the South, of England as far. north as the Hebrides and returns yet again. All this, and much more, too, has just been scientifically proved, not the least interesting- detail being an explanation of the zigzag or tortuous course followed by migrating birds when on passage between tin European and African coasts. For a long time this could not be explained ; but it is known now that th© birds going from one to the other of the Continents named follow a track that exactly coincides with the ancient land connection. — "Natural History Notes," in. the Diiblin Farmer^' Gazette.