Page:The Migration of Birds - Thomas A Coward - 1912.pdf/67

Rh The bird rose and soared in ever-widening circles until it was a mere speck, even when seen through powerful prismatic glasses; the great stretch of its wings alone enabled me to watch it for so long. When at a great height—I will not guess what elevation—it ceased its circling flight and made straight for the north.

In October I saw several flocks of redwings leave the Spurn. They rose to a great height before directing their flight southwards, although the Lincolnshire coast was plainly visible.

Great differences of opinion have been expressed about the speed of migrating birds, and here again Gätke's estimates, on account of the weakness of his arguments and his immense presumption, cannot be seriously considered. There are but few measured speeds, and most of these, except perhaps the ducks and geese referred to already, are of birds travelling at low elevations

Many birds, especially day-migrating swallows, hooded crows and other birds, frequently travel at slight elevations; it is not unusual to see birds at sea flying a few feet only above the waves Mr W. Eagle Clarke, whose systematic observations demand the profoundest respect, again and again urges that the direction of the wind has little effect upon migration, but that the force of the wind may make migration impossible. At the Eddystone, where he