. The world of the great forest; how animals, birds, reptiles, insects talk, think, work, and live . sea is thatthroughout their lives they always go back year aftervear to the river in which they were born. This pil-grimage takes place during the dry season when therivers are clear, the current less swift, and the waterlower. The fish know the seasons as well as birds. When the fish in shoals began their migrationtowards the coast, they knew their way well throughthe depths of the sea to those rivers just as if theyhad had a star to guide them. They also had land-marks, for the bottom of the
. The world of the great forest; how animals, birds, reptiles, insects talk, think, work, and live . sea is thatthroughout their lives they always go back year aftervear to the river in which they were born. This pil-grimage takes place during the dry season when therivers are clear, the current less swift, and the waterlower. The fish know the seasons as well as birds. When the fish in shoals began their migrationtowards the coast, they knew their way well throughthe depths of the sea to those rivers just as if theyhad had a star to guide them. They also had land-marks, for the bottom of the ocean has tall mountains,hills, narrow and broad valleys, just like the surface ofthe earth ; it has also varied forests and growths suchas seaweeds, coral trees, etc. While the fish swam along the shore they recog-nized the rivers from which they had originally come,and ascended these, while other fish that followed intheir wake continued to swim along the coast farther 268 THE NSHIEYS, OR FISH on until they came to their own river. Not all thatstarted reached their destination. They were much. diminished in numbers, thebigger fish having gobbledup many on the way. When the fish were ontheir migration, many birdswho prey on fish, frogs,and other creatures, andwho were in far away lands,said in their turn : Nowit is about time for us tobegin our yearly journey tothe rivers and lagoons of the great forest, for the fish arecoming there, and the ponds in the prairies by the seaare going to be dry or shallow, and it will be easy forus to catch our prey. Among the birds that thus spoke were large long- 269 THE WORLD OF THE GREAT FOREST legged cranes and storks, also fishing eagles, herons,flamingoes, ibis, many pelicans, and the ugly mara-bouts who have so many fine feathers. They all rejoiced in advance at the prospect offuture good meals. The big cranes, storks, and herons said: Ourlong, sharp, pointed beaks, our long legs, and power-ful wings are great possessions, for they help
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookpublishe, booksubjectanimals
