THE NIGHTINGALE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3740, 12 January 1928, Page 2

THE NIGHTINGALE.

“Anti-Cruelty” Avrites as to the Auckland Herald: — “In England the nightingale regularly migrates in the -autumn to Southern France and thereabouts. Its flight takes the bird over only a short sea distance, Avhile its route affords ample resting places. But what about the recent unlicensed importations to New Zealand? The birds cannot know otherwise than that they are still in the land of their birth, and about March, four charming little nightingales, living in a strange land, will set forth as usual for their Avinter home. Full of confidence and with joy in their little hearts they rise, taking their bearings from the sun, as their ancestors have done frpm ages and ages past. ’ Rapidly their frail Avings carry them forward l over the sea. Hoav eagerly they look for the land, the direction of Avhich their Godgiven instincts' have planted in their breasts. They look in vain, but still onward and omvard they 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 Avide 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 Aving-beats grow less rapid and faster beats each little heart, until, as last a wave is touched and the sea claims our four little nightingales, which Avould next year have been singing their own sweet songs in England’s woods, had not some unthinking person Avrenched 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 of cruelty are an impossibility.”