the passage or removal of a thing out of one place into another.

Migration of Birds.—It has been generally believed that many different kinds of birds annually pass from one country to another, and spend the summer or the winter where it is most agreeable to them; and that even the birds of our own island will seek the most distant southern regions of Africa, when directed by a peculiar instinct to leave their own country. It hath long been an opinion pretty generally received, that swallows reside during the winter-season in the warm Migration, southern regions; and Mr Adanson particularly relates having seen them at Senegal when they were obliged to leave this country. But besides the swallow, Mr Pennant enumerates many other birds which migrate from Britain at different times of the year, and are then to be found in other countries; after which they again leave these countries, and return to Britain. The reason of these migrations he supposes to be a defect of food at certain seasons of the year, or the want of a secure asylum from the persecution of man during the time of courtship, incubation, and nutrition.—The following is his list of the migrating species.

1. Crow. Of this genus, the hooded crow migrates regularly with the woodcock. It inhabits North Britain the whole year; a few are said annually to breed on Dartmoor, in Devonshire. It breeds also in Sweden and Austria; in some of the Swedish provinces it only shifts its quarters, in others it resides throughout the year. Our author is at a loss for the summer retreat of those which visit us in such numbers in winter, and quit our country in the spring; and for the reason why a bird, whose food is such that it may be found at all seasons in this country, should leave us.

2. Cuckoo. Disappears early in autumn; the retreat of this and the following bird is quite unknown to us.

3. Wryneck. Is a bird that leaves us in the winter. If its diet be ants alone, as several affirm, the cause of its migration is very evident. This bird disappears before winter, and revisits us in the spring a little earlier than the cuckoo.

4. Hoopoe. Comes to England but by accident: Mr Pennant once indeed heard of a pair that attempted to make their nest in a meadow at Selborne, Hampshire, but were frighted away by the curiosity of people. It breeds in Germany.

5. Grouse. The whole tribe, except the quail, lives here all the year round; that bird either leaves us, or else retires towards the sea-coasts.

6. Pigeons. Some few of the ring-doves breed here; but the multitude that appears in the winter, is so disproportioned to what continue here the whole year, as to make it certain that the greatest part quit the Migration, the country in the spring. It is most probable they go to Sweden to breed, and return from thence in autumn; as Mr Ekmark informs us they entirely quit that country before winter. Multitudes of the common wild pigeons also make the northern retreat, and visit us in winter; not but numbers breed in the high cliffs in all parts of this island. The turtle also probably leaves us in the winter, at least changes its place, removing to the southern counties.

7. Stars. Breeds here. Possibly several remove to other countries for that purpose, since the produce of those that continue here seems unequal to the clouds of them that appear in winter. It is not unlikely that many migrate into Sweden, where Mr Berger observes they return in spring.

8. Thrushes. The fieldfare and the redwing breed and pass their summers in Norway and other cold countries; their food is berries, which abounding in our kingdoms, tempts them here in the winter. These two and the Royton crow are the only land-birds that regularly and constantly migrate into England, and do not breed here. The hawfinch and crossbill come here at such uncertain times as not to deserve the name of birds of passage.

9. Chatterer. The chatterer appears annually about Edinburgh in flocks during winter; and feeds on the berries of the mountain-ash. In South Britain it is an accidental visitant.

10. Grosbeaks. The grosbeak and crossbill come here but seldom; they breed in Austria. The pine grosbeak probably breeds in the forests of the Highlands of Scotland.

11. Buntings. All the genus inhabits England throughout the year; except the greater brambling, which is forced here from the north in very severe seasons.

12. Finches. All continue in some parts of these kingdoms, except the siskin, which is an irregular visitant, said to come from Russia. The linnets shift their quarters, breeding in one part of this island, and remove with their young to others. All finches feed on the seeds of plants.

13. Larks, fly-catchers, wagtails, and warblers. All of these feed on insects and worms; yet only part of them quit these kingdoms; though the reason of migration is the same to all. The nightingale, blackcap, fly-catcher, willow-wren, wheat-eat, and white-throat, leave us before winter, while the small and delicate golden-crested wren braves our severest frosts. The migrants of this genus continue longest in Great Britain in the southern counties, the winter in those parts being later than in those of the north; Mr Stillingfleet having observed several wheat-eats in the isle of Purbeck on the 18th of November. As these birds are incapable of very distant flights, Spain, or the south of France, is probably their winter-asylum.

14. Swallows and goatsucker. Every species disappears at the approach of winter.

Water-Fowl.

Of the vast variety of water-fowl that frequent Great Britain, it is amazing to reflect how few are known to breed here: the cause that principally urges them to leave this country, seems to be not merely the want of food, but the desire of a secure retreat. Our country is too populous for birds to fly and timid as the bulk of these are: when great part of our island Migration was a mere waste, a tract of woods and fen; doubtless many species of birds (which at this time migrate) remained in security throughout the year. Egrets, a species of heron, now scarce known in this island, were in former times in prodigious plenty; and the crane, that has totally forsaken this country, bred familiarly in our marshes: their place of incubation, as well as of all other cloven-footed water-fowl (the heron excepted) being on the ground, and exposed to every one: as rural economy increased in this country, these animals were more and more disturbed; at length, by a series of alarms, they were necessitated to seek, during the summer, some lonely safe habitation.

On the contrary, those that build or lay in the almost inaccessible rocks that impend over the British seas, breed there still in vast numbers, having little to fear from the approach of mankind: the only disturbance they meet with in general being from the desperate attempts of some few to get their eggs.

Cloven-footed Water-Fowl.

15. Herons. The white heron is an uncommon bird, and visits us at uncertain seasons; the common kind and the bittern never leave us.

16. Curlews. The curlew breeds sometimes on our mountains; but, considering the vast flights that appear in winter, it is probable that the greater part retire to other countries: the whimbrel breeds on the Grampian hills, in the neighbourhood of Invercauld.

17. Snipes. The woodcock breeds in the moist woods of Sweden, and other cold countries. Some snipes breed here, but the greatest part retire elsewhere; as do every other species of this genus.

18. Sandpipers. The lapwing continues here the whole year; the ruff breeds here, but retires in winter; the redshank and sandpiper breed in this country, and reside here. All the others absent themselves during summer.

19. Plovers and oyster-catcher. The long-legged plover and sandpiper visit us only in winter; the dotterel appears in spring and in autumn; yet, what is very singular, we do not find it breeds in South Britain. The oyster-catcher lives with us the whole year. The Norfolk plover and sea-lark breed in England. The green plover breeds on the mountains of the north of England, and on the Grampian hills.

We must here remark, that every species of the genera of curlews, woodcocks, sandpipers, and plovers, that forsake us in the spring, retire to Sweden, Poland, Prussia, Norway, and Lapland, to breed: as soon as the young can fly, they return to us again, because the frosts which set in early in those countries totally deprive them of the means of subsisting; as the dryness and hardness of the ground, in general, during our summer, prevent them from penetrating the earth with their bills, in search of worms, which are the natural food of these birds. Mr Ekmark speaks thus of the retreat of the whole tribe of cloven-footed water fowl out of his country (Sweden) at the approach of winter; and Mr Klein gives much the same account of those of Poland and Prussia.

20. Rails and gallinules. Every species of these two genera continue with us the whole year; the land-rail excepted, which is not seen here in winter. It likewise continues in Ireland only during the summer-months, Migration. when they are very numerous, as Mr Smith tells us in the History of Waterford, p. 336. Great numbers appear in Anglesea the latter end of May; it is supposed that they pass over from Ireland, the passage between the two islands being but small. As we have instances of these birds lighting on ships in the channel and the Bay of Biscay, we may conjecture their winter-quarters to be in Spain.

FINNED-FOOTED WATER-BIRDS.

21. Phalaropes. Visit us but seldom; their breeding place is Lapland, and other arctic regions.

22. Grebes. The great-crested grebe, the black and white grebe, and little grebe, breed with us, and never migrate; the others visit us accidentally, and breed in Lapland.

WEB-FOOTED BIRDS.

23. Auklet. Breed near Foalstike in Lincolnshire; but quit their quarters in winter. They are then shot in different parts of the kingdom, which they visit, not regularly, but accidentally.

24. Auks and guillemots. The great auk or penguin sometimes breeds in St Kilda. The auk, the guillemot, and puffin, inhabit most of the maritime cliffs of Great Britain, in amazing numbers, during summer. The black guillemot breeds in the Ba's Isle, and in St Kilda, and sometimes in Llandidno rocks. We are at a loss for the breeding place of the other species; neither can we be very certain of the winter residence of any of them, excepting of the lesser guillemot and black-billed auk, which, during winter, visit in vast flocks the Frith of Forth.

25. Divers. These chiefly breed in the lakes of Sweden and Lapland, and some in countries near the pole; but some of the red-throated divers, the northern and the imber, may breed in the north of Scotland and its isles.

26. Terns. Every species breeds here; but leaves us in the winter.

27. Petrels. The fulmar breeds in the Isle of St Kilda, and continues there the whole year, except September and part of October: the shearwater visits the Isle of Man in April; breeds there; and, leaving it in August or the beginning of September, disperses over all parts of the Atlantic ocean. The stormfinch is seen at all distances from land on the same vast watery tract; nor is ever found near the shore except by some very rare accident, unless in the breeding season. Mr Pennant found it on some little rocky isles, off the north of Skye. It also breeds in St Kilda. He also suspects that it nests on the Blasket Isles off Kerry, and that it is the gourder of Mr Smith.

28. Mergansers. This whole genus is mentioned among the birds that fill the Lapland lakes during summer. Mr Pennant has seen the young of the red-breasted in the north of Scotland: a few of these, and perhaps of the goosanders, may breed there.

29. Ducks. Of the numerous species that form this genus, we know of few that breed here. The swan and goose, the shield-duck, the eider-duck, a few shovellers, garganies, and teals, and a very small portion of the wild ducks.

The rest contribute to form that amazing multitude of water-fowl that annually repair from most parts of Europe to the woods and lakes of Lapland and other arctic regions, there to perform the functions of incubation and nutrition in full security. They and their young quit their retreat in September, and disperse themselves over Europe. With us they make their appearance the beginning of October; circulate first round our shores; and, when compelled by severe frosts, betake themselves to our lakes and rivers. Of the web-footed fowl there are some of harder constitutions than others: these endure the ordinary winters of the more northern countries; but when the cold reigns there with more than common rigour, repair for shelter to these kingdoms: this regulates the appearance of some of the diver kind, as also of the wild swans, the swallow-tailed shield-duck, and the different sorts of goosanders which then visit our coasts. Barentz found the barnacles with their nests in great numbers in Nova Zembla. Collect. Voy. Dutch East-India Company, 8vo. 1703. p. 19. Clusius, in his Exot. 368. also observes, that the Dutch discovered them on the rocks of that country and in Waygate Straits. They, as well as the other species of wild-geese, go very far north to breed, as appears from the histories of Greenland and Spitzbergen, by Egede and Crantz. These birds seem to make Iceland a resting place, as Horboe observes: few continue there to breed, but only visit that island in the spring, and after a short stay retire still further north.

30. Corvoraunts. The corvoraunt and shag breed on most of our high rocks: the gannet in some of the Scotch isles, and on the coast of Kerry: the two first continue on our shores the whole year. The gannet disperses itself all round the seas of Great Britain, in pursuit of the herring and pilchard, and even as far as the Tagus to prey on the sardina.

But of the numerous species of fowl here enumerated, it may be observed how very few entrust themselves to us in the breeding season, and what a distant flight they make to perform the first great dictate of nature.

There seems to be scarcely any but what we have traced to Lapland, a country of lakes, rivers, swamps, and alps, covered with thick and gloomy forests, that afford shelter during summer to these fowls, which in winter disperse over the greatest part of Europe. In those arctic regions, by reason of the thickness of the woods, the ground remains moist and penetrable to the woodcocks, and other flender-billed fowl: and for the web-footed birds, the waters afford large innumerable of the tormenting knat. The days there are long; and the beautiful meteorous nights indulge them with every opportunity of collecting so minute a food: whilst mankind is very sparingly scattered over that vast northern waste.

Why then should Linnaeus, the great explorer of these rude deserts, be amazed at the myriads of water-fowl that migrated with him out of Lapland? which exceeded in multitude the army of Xerxes; covering, for eight whole days and nights, the surface of the river Calix. His partial observation as a botanist, would confine their food to the vegetable kingdom, almost denied to the Lapland waters; inattentive to a more plenteous table of insect-food, which the all-bountiful Creator had spread for them in the wilderness. It may be remarked, that the lakes of mountainous rocky countries in general are destitute of plants: few or none are seen on those of Switzerland; and Linnaeus makes Migration makes the same observation in respect to those of Lapland; having, during his whole tour, discovered only a single specimen of a lemma triflora, or "ivy-leaved duck's meat," Flora Lap. n° 470.; a few of the ferula lacustris, or "bullrush," n° 18.; the alopecurus geniculatus, or "flote foxtail grass," n° 38.; and the ranunculus aquatilis, n° 234.; which are all he enumerates in his Prolegomena to that excellent performance.

Under the article Hirundo, we have given the principal arguments for and against the migration of swallows. Here we shall give a short abstract of the arguments used by the Hon. Daines Barrington against the migration of birds in general, from a paper published by him in the 62d volume of the Philosophical Transactions. This gentleman denies, that any well-attested instances can be produced of this supposed migration, which, if there were any such periodical flight, could not possibly have escaped the frequent observation of seamen. It has indeed been asserted that birds of passage become invisible in their flight, because they rise too high into the air to be perceived, and because they choose the night for their passage. The author, however, expresses his doubts "whether any bird was ever seen to rise to a greater height than perhaps twice that of St Paul's cross;" and he further endeavours to show, that the extent of some of these supposed migrations (from the northern parts of Europe, for instance, to the line) is too great to be accounted for, by having recourse to the argument founded on a nocturnal passage.

The author next recites, in a chronological order, all the instances that he has been able to collect, of birds having been actually seen by mariners when they were crossing a large extent of sea; and he endeavours to show that no birds can be laid on the few casual observations of this kind that have been produced in support of the doctrine of a regular and periodical migration.

Mr Barrington afterwards proceeds to invalidate M. Adanson's celebrated observation with respect to the migration of the swallow in particular, and which has been considered by many as perfectly decisive of the present question. He endeavours to show that the four swallows which that naturalist caught, on their settling upon his ship, on the 6th of October at about the distance of 50 leagues from the coast of Senegal, and which he supposes to have been then proceeding from Europe to pass the winter in Africa, could not be true European swallows; or, if they were, could not have been on their return from Europe to Africa. His objections are founded principally on some proofs which he produces of M. Adanson's want of accuracy on this subject, which has led him, in the present instance, to mistake two African species of the swallow-tribe, described and engraved by Brisson, for European swallows, to which they bear a general resemblance: or granting even that they were European swallows, he contends, that they were fitting from the Cape de Verd Islands to the coast of Africa; "to which short flight, however, they were unequal, and accordingly fell into the sailor's hands."

After many observations and reflections on the subject, the author endeavours to support the opinion that swallows, and perhaps some other supposed birds of passage, remain with us during the winter in a torpid state; observing that, notwithstanding the great care which they take to conceal themselves, it is certain that they have been frequently found, during the period of their supposed absence, lying hid in caverns, or hollow trees, and even under water. Besides other instances, well known to those who have attended to this subject, the author gives us the testimony of Mr Stephens A. S. S. who assured him that he had himself picked up a cluster of three or four swallows (or martins) out of a pond of his father's at Shivenham in Berkshire, in the month of February; that they were caked together in the mud; and that, on carrying them into the kitchen, they soon flew about the room, in the presence of his father, mother, and others. The same fact was afterwards confirmed to the author by Dr Pye, who was then Mr Stephens's school-fellow at Shivenham, and by another gentleman who now lives in that village.

It may naturally be asked, why swallows, in particular, are not frequently thus found in their torpid state. In answer to this question the author observes, that the same instinct which prompts the bird thus to conceal itself, instructs it to choose such a place of security, that common accidents will not discover it;—that ponds are seldom cleaned in the winter, as it is such cold work for the labourers;—that facts of this sort are little attended to; and that the common labourers who have the best chance of finding torpid birds, make no mention of the discovery to others, as they consider it as a thing of course, and consequently not interesting to any one. He adds, that swallows may be constantly taken in the month of October, and even so late as November, during the dark nights, while they sit on the willows in the Thames; and that one may almost instantaneously fill a large sack with them, because at this time they will not stir from the twigs when you lay your hands upon them. This, says the author, looks very much like their beginning to be torpid, before they hide themselves under the water.

To this argument, however, the monthly reviewers oppose the following, which appears to them decisive in favour of migration. The swallow, it is supposed, like other birds, moults once a-year at least: but during the whole time this bird is seen with us, it appears in full feather. The process of moulting, therefore, must be performed somewhere: but as it is absurd to suppose that this great change can be effected in these birds while they are lying asleep, or torpid in caverns and hollow trees, or immersed in clutters in the mud at the bottom of ponds or rivers, they must moult in some distant country, to which they retire when they disappear in these parts.

Migration of Fishes. See Clupea.

St MIGUEL, one of the Azore islands, situated in W. Long. 22. 45., N. Lat. 38. 10. This island appears to be entirely volcanic. The best account we have of it hath been published in the 68th volume of the Philosophical Transactions by Mr Francis Maflon. According to him, the productions differ greatly from those of Madeira, inasmuch that none of the trees of the latter are found here, except the faya: it has a nearer affinity to Europe than Africa. The mountains are covered with the erica vulgaris, and an elegant... Migration, elegant ever-green shrub very like a phillyrea, which Miguel gives them a most beautiful appearance.

It is one of the principal and most fertile of the Azorian islands, lying nearly east and west; its length is about 18 or 20 leagues; its breadth unequal, not exceeding five leagues, and in some places not more than two. It contains about 80000 inhabitants.

Its capital, the city of Ponta del Guda, which contains about 12000 inhabitants, is situated on the south side of the island, on a fine fertile, plain country, pretty regularly built; the streets straight, and of a good breadth. It is supplied with good water, which is brought about the distance of three leagues from the neighbouring mountains. The churches and other religious edifices are elegant and well built for such an island. There is a large convent of Franciscan friars and one of the order of St Augustin, four convents for professed nuns, and three Recolhimentos for young women and widows who are not professed. The vessels anchor in an open road; but it is not dangerous, as no wind can prevent their going to sea in case of stormy weather.

The country round the city is plain for several miles, well cultivated, and laid out with good taste into spacious fields, which are sown with wheat, barley, Indian corn, pulse, &c., and commonly produce annually two crops; for as soon as one is taken off, another is immediately sown in its place. The soil is remarkably gentle and easy to work, being for the most part composed of pulverized pumice-flake. There are in the plains a number of pleasant country-seats, with orchards of orange trees, which are esteemed the best in Europe.

The second town is Ribeira Grande, situated on the north side of the island, containing about as many inhabitants as the city; a large convent of Franciscan friars, and one of nuns. It gives title to a count, called the Conde Ribeira Grande, who first instituted linen and woollen manufactories in the island.

The third town is Villa Franca, on the south side of the island, about six leagues east of Ponta del Guda. It has a convent of Franciscan friars, and one of nuns, which contains about 300. Here, about half a mile from the shore, lies a small island (Ilhao), which is hollow in the middle, and contains a fine basin with only one entrance into it, fit to hold fifty sail of vessels secure from all weather; at present it wants cleaning out, as the winter's rain washes down great quantities of earth into it, which has greatly diminished its depth. But vessels frequently anchor between this island and the main.

Beside these towns are several smaller, viz. Alagoa, Agoa de Pao, Brelanha, Fanaes de Ajuda, and a number of hamlets, called lugares, or places.

About four leagues north-east from Villa Franca, lies a place called the Furnas, being a round deep valley in the middle of the east part of the island, surrounded with high mountains, which, though steep, may be easily ascended on horseback by two roads. The valley is about five or six leagues in circuit. The face of the mountains, which are very steep, is entirely covered with beautiful evergreens, viz. myrtles, laurels, a large species of bilberry called uva de serra, &c., and numberless rivulets of the purest water run down their sides. The valley below is well cultivated, producing wheat, Indian corn, flax, &c. The fields are planted round with a beautiful sort of poplars, which grow into pyramidal forms, and by their carelefs, irregular disposition, together with the multitude of rivulets, which run in all directions through the valley, a number of boiling fountains throwing up clouds of steam, a fine lake in the south-west part about two leagues round, compose a prospect the finest that can be imagined. In the bottom of the valley the roads are smooth and easy, there being no rocks but a fine pulverized pumice-stone that the earth is composed of.

There are a number of hot fountains in different parts of the valley, and also on the sides of the mountains; but the most remarkable is that called the chaldeira, situated on the eastern part of the valley, on a small eminence by the side of a river, on which is a basin about 30 feet diameter, where the water continually boils with prodigious fury. A few yards distant from it is a cavern in the side of the bank, in which the water boils in a dreadful manner, throwing out a thick, muddy, unctuous water several yards from its mouth with a hideous noise. In the middle of the river are several places where the water boils up so hot, that a person cannot dip his finger into it without being scalded; also along its banks are several apertures, out of which the steam rises to a considerable height, so hot that there is no approaching it with one's hand; in other places, a person would think that 100 smiths bellows were blowing all together, and sulphureous steam issuing out in thousands of places; so that native sulphur is found in every chink, and the ground covered with it like hoar-frost; even the bushes that happen to lie near these places are covered with pure brimstone, condensing from the steam that issues out of the ground, which in many places is covered over with a substance like burnt alum. In these small caverns, where the steam issues out, the people often boil their yams.

Near these boiling fountains are several mineral springs; two in particular, whose waters have a very strong mineral quality, of an acid taste, and bitter to the tongue.

About half a mile to the westward, and close by the river side, are several hot springs, which are used by sick people with great success. Also, on the side of a hill west of St Ann's church, are many others, with three bathing-houses, which are most commonly used. These waters are very warm, although not boiling hot; but at the same place issue several streams of cold mineral water, by which they are tempered, according to every one's liking.

About a mile south of this place, and over a low ridge of hills, lies a fine lake about two leagues in circumference, and very deep, the water thick, and of a greenish colour. At the north end is a plain piece of ground, where the sulphureous streams issue out in many places, attended with a surprising blowing noise. Our author could observe strong springs in the lake, but could not determine whether they were hot or cold: this lake seems to have no visible evacuation. The other springs immediately form a considerable river, called Ribeira Quente, which runs a course about two or three leagues, thro' a deep rent in the mountains, on each side of which are several places where the smoke issues MIG [5045] MIL