The Book of Wonders [antikvár]

THE MYSTERY OF BÍRD MIGRATION Every spring, in the valleys and combes along our southern coasts, little, weary twitterings may often be heard coming from under the bushes and undergrowth. This is especially so after south and westerly gales, and those interested in these birdlike sounds may, on cautious search, discover dozens and scores of tits, warblers, wagtails, and others of our summer songsters resting upon branches and twigs. The little visitors are very weary, for they have come a long, long way, even in somé instances from such distant places as South Africa, and they are resting in the shelter of the bushes after the last, tempestuous flight across the sea before travelling on to the places where they will breed and live during the summer months. What are they doing there ? you may ask. Why and how have they found their way over such great distances to visit our shores? The answer lies in one of the greatest marvels and mysteries of nature-the mystery of bird migration. Every spring, from February to June, thousands of millions of birds arrive in England. They come from all over the old world, from Australia, Africa, and Asia, flying over land and sea, cross7