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Stone chat, Golden-crowned

wren,

RAII NOMINA.

Enanthe tertia:

Regulus cristatus:

This is the smallest British bird: haunts the tops of tall trees; stays the winter through.

A list of the winter birds of passage round this neighbourhood, ranged somewhat in the order in which

they appear:

1. Ring-ousel,

2. Redwing,
3. Fieldfare,
4. Royston crow,
5. Woodcock,

6. Snipe,
7. Jack snipe,
8. Wood-pigeon,

9. Wild swan, 10. Wild goose,

11. Wild duck,

12. Pochard, 13. Wigeon, 14. Teal, breeds with us in Wol-{ mer Forest,

15. Grosbeak,

16. Crossbill,

17. Silktail,

Merula torquata:

Turdus iliacus:
Turdus pilaris:
Cornix cinerea :
Scolopax:

Gallinago minor:

Gallinago minima:

Enus:

Cygnus ferus:
Anser ferus:

Anas torquata mi-】

nor:

Anas fera fusca : Penelope :

Querquedula:

Coccothraustes:
Loxia:

Garrulus Bohemi

cus:

This is a new migration, which I have lately discovered, about Michaelmas week, and again about the 14th of March. About old Michaelmas. Though a percher by day, roosts on the ground.

Most frequent on downs.

Appears about old Michaelmas. Some snipes constantly breed with us.

Seldom appears till late: not in

such plenty as formerly. On some large waters.

On our lakes and streams.

These are only wanderers that appear occasionally, and are not observant of any regular migration.

These birds, as they stand numerically, belong to

the following Linnæan genera:

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Birds that sing in the night are but few.

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I should now proceed to such birds as continue to sing after Midsummer, but as they are rather numerous, they would exceed the bounds of this paper: besides, as this is now the season for remarking on that subject, I am willing to repeat my observations on some birds concerning the continuation of whose song I seem at present to have some doubt.

I am, &c.

DEAR SIR,

LETTER II.

TO THE SAME.

SELBORNE, Nov. 2, 1769.

WHEN I did myself the honour to write to you about the end of last June on the subject of natural history, I sent you a list of the summer birds of passage which I have observed in this neighbourhood; and also a list of the winter birds of passage: I mentioned besides those soft-billed birds that stay with us the winter through in the south of England, and those that are remarkable for singing in the night.

According to my proposal, I shall now proceed to such birds (singing birds strictly so called) as continue in full song till after Midsummer; and shall range them somewhat in the order in which they first begin to open as the spring advances.

RAII NOMINA.

1. Woodlark,

Alauda arborea :

2. Song-thrush, Titus:

3. Wren,

4. Redbreast,

In January, and continues to sing through all the summer and autumn.

{Turtus, simpliciter {In Febsume their song in August

autumn.

Passer troglodytes: All the year, hard frost excepted.

Rubecula:

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7. Skylark, 8. Swallow,

9. Blackcap,

In February, and on to October.

RAIL NOMINA.

Alauda vulgaris:

Hirundo domestica: From April to September.
Atricapilla:

Beginning of April to July 13th.

Alauda pratorum: {From middle of April to July

10. Titlark,

11. Blackbird,

Merula vulgaris :

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16th.

(Sometimes in February and
March, and so on to July the
23d; reassumes in autumn.
In April, and on to July 23.

{April, and through to Septem

16.

On to July and August 2.

15. Less reed spar- Passer arundina May, on to the beginning of July.

row,

16. Common lin

net,

ceus minor:

lin-}
-} Linaria vulgaris:

Breeds and whistles on till Au

gust; reassumes its note when they begin to congregate in October, and again early before the flocks separate.

Birds that cease to be in full song, and are usually silent at or before Midsummer:

17. Middle

low wren,

wil- {Regulus non cris- Middle of June: begins in April.

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Birds that sing for a short time, and very early in

the spring:

[January the 2nd, 1770, in February. Is called in Hampshire and Sussex the storm

21. Missel-bird, Turdus viscivorus: cock, because its song is sup

22. Great titmouse or ox-eye,

Fringillago:

posed to forebode windy wet weather: is the largest singing bird we have.

(In February, March, April: re

assumes for a short time in September.

Birds that have somewhat of a note or song, and yet are hardly to be called singing birds:

23. Golden-crowned wren,

Regulus cristatus:

Its note as minute as its person;

frequents the tops of high oaks and firs: the smallest British bird.

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25. Small willow- Regulus non cris- Sings in March, and on to Sep

willow-}

tember.

Cantat voce stridulâ locustæ ; from end of April to August.

Alauda minima voce Chirps all night, from the middle

wren,

tatus:

26. Largest ditto,

Ditto:

27. Grasshopperlark,

locusta:

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of April to the end of July. All the breeding time; from May to September.

From the end of January to July.

All singing birds, and those that have any pretensions to song, not only in Britain, but perhaps the world through, come under the Linnæan Ordo of Pas

seres.

The abovementioned birds, as they stand numerically, belong to the following Linnæan genera:

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Birds that sing as they fly are but few:

Skylark,

Alauda vulgaris :

Titlark,

Alauda pratorum:

Woodlark,

Alauda arborea:

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Rising, suspended, and falling.

its descent; also sitting on trees, and walking on the ground.

Suspended; in hot summer nights all night long.

Sometimes from bush to bush.
Uses when singing on the wing
odd jerks and gesticulations.

Hirundo domestica: In soft sunny weather.
Passer troglodytes: Sometimes from bush to bush.

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Builds the beginning of March.
Hatches in April.

{Palumbus torqua- } Lays the beginning of April.

All birds that continue in full song till after Midsummer appear to me to breed more than once.

Most kinds of birds seem to me to be wild and shy somewhat in proportion to their bulk; I mean in this island, where they are much pursued and annoyed: but in Ascension Island, and many other desolate places, mariners have found fowls so unacquainted with a human figure, that they would stand still to be taken; as is the case with boobies, &c. As an example of what is advanced, I remark that the golden crested wren (the smallest British bird) will stand unconcerned till you come within three or four yards of it, while the bustard (Otis), the largest British land fowl, does not care to admit a person within so many furlongs1.

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The bustard is extinct in Scotland; and as it is now so scarce in England, owing to population and enclosures, it becomes interesting to

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