WHEN THE NIGHTINGALES MIGRATE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3853, 17 January 1928, Page 82

WHEN THE NIGHTINGALES MIGRATE.

TO THE EDITOR. wh rvrT tions S°Ne..v h ZeX a N know 'tha? m the land of their birth and. about March 1 n ff a les. living in a strange land, will set forth as usual for their winter home. Full of confidence and tM-fo J°' V tbhearts they ’ rise, ta.ui.g their bearings from the sun as then- ancestors have done from ages ’ and ages past. Rapidly their frail wings carry t cm forward over the sea. How eagerly °? k - f £ r i , t h. e ,ar 'd. the direction of uhich their God-given instincts have nlanted >n then- breasts. The v look in vain but still on ward and onward thev press until at last, no land appearing in sight, the birds now tired and exhausted fly round and round in great circles, peering far and wide over the endless sea for the land which is not there Each circle brings them closer and nearer to the now seemingly relentless waves Slowly but surely their wing beat's grow lew rapid and faster beats each little heart, until at last a wave is touched and the sea claims our four little nightingales, which would next.year have been their own sweet songs in England’s woods had not some unthinking person wrenched them from their native land to satisfy his desire to repeat an experiment which students of such matters know must be doomed to failure. It is to be trusted that the authorities at either end will see to it. that future repetitions of such acts cf cruelty are. an impossibility.—l am. etc..

Anti-Cruelty.