Country . Life
MARKED MIGRANTS.
The marking of animals in order to trace their movements is being extended in new directions. It would be good news if these new lines of activity would divert too scientific " migra- tionists " from the supererogatory amusement of ringing very small birds. The paucity of records among the small warblers and wrens is at least strong presumptive evidence of the inherently likely result that the rings, light though they are, definitely hamper the victims. It is a standing marvel that some of these weak fliers accomplish the long journeys at all under the most favourable conditions ; and casualties are always many. The very slightest extra handicap might easily prove fatal. It is to be hoped that the many amateurs who catch up willow warblers and such birds or ring their nestlings will devote most of their energy to other fowl. And the problems of the bigger birds are on the whole more obscure and therefore more interesting.
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