8. Swallow,

9. Black-cap,

10. Titlark,

11. Blackbird,

12. White-throat,

13. Goldfinch,

14. Greenfinch,

row,

flava: Emberiza

Alauda vulgaris: Hirundo domestica: Atricapilla:

Alauda prato

rum:

Merula vulga-
ris:

All the year, hard frost excepted. Ditto.

Early in February to July the 10th. Early in February, and on through July to August the 21st. In February, and on

to October.

(From April to Sep

tember. Beginning of April to July the 13th.

(From middle of April to July the 16th. Sometimes in February and March, and so on to July the 23rd; reassumes in autumn.

Ficedula af- (In April, and on to

finis:

Carduelis:

Chloris:

July the 23rd.

April, and through to
September the 16th.
On to July and Au-
gust the 2nd.

15. Less reed-spar- ( Passer arundi- ( May, on to beginning

naceus minor:

Birds that cease to be in full song, and are usually

silent at or before Midsummer:

in the spring:

Birds that sing for a short time, and very early

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

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 passeres.

The above-mentioned birds, as they stand numerically, belong to the following Linnæan genera :—

1, 7, 10, 27.

2, 11, 21.

3, 4, 5, 9, 12, 15

Hirundo: 13, 16, 19. Fringilla:

17, 18, 20, 23, 25, 26. Motacilla: 22, 24.

6, 30.

Emberiza: 14, 29.

Parus:

Loxia.

Birds that sing as they fly are but few:

Birds that breed most early in these parts:

Ring-dove,

Merula:

Cornix frugi- ( Builds the beginning

of March.

lega:
Alauda arbo-Hatches in April.

rea:

Palumbus tor- ( Lays the beginning of
quatus:
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 furlongs.

SELBORNE, Nov. 2, 1769.

LETTER XXVIII.

TO THOMAS PENNANT, ESQ.

WAS much gratified by your communicative letter on your return from Scotland, where you spent, I find, some

considerable time, and gave yourself good room to examine the natural curiosities of that extensive kingdom, both those of the islands, as well as those of the highlands. The usual bane of such expeditions is hurry; because men seldom allot themselves half the time they should do: but, fixing on a day for their return, post from place to place, rather as if they were on a journey that required dispatch, than as philosophers investigating the works of nature. You must have made, no doubt, many discoveries, and laid up a good fund of materials for a future edition of the British Zoology; and will have no reason to repent that you have bestowed so much pains on a part of Great Britain that perhaps was never so well examined before.

It has always been matter of wonder to me that fieldfares, which are so congenerous to thrushes and blackbirds, should never choose to breed in England: but that they should not think even the high