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 :—

Skylark,

Birds that sing as they fly are but few:

Titlark,

Alauda prato-,

sitting on trees, and

rum:

Alauda arbo

Woodlark,

rea:

Passer troglo- ( Sometimes from bush

dytes:

to bush.

hot

In soft sunny weather.

Birds that breed most early in these parts:

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

lands cold and northerly, and sequestered enough, is a circumstance still more strange and wonderful.* The ring-ousel, you find, stays in Scotland the whole year round; so that we have reason to conclude that those migrators that visit us for a short space every autumn do not come from thence.†

And here, I think, will be the proper place to mention that those birds were most punctual again in their migration this autumn, appearing, as before, about the thirtieth of September: but their flocks were larger than common, and their stay protracted somewhat beyond the usual time. If they came to spend the whole winter with us, as some of their congeners do, and then left us, as they do, in spring, I should not be so much struck with the occurrence, since it would be similar to that of the other winter birds of passage; but when I see them for a fortnight at Michaelmas, and again for about a week in the beginning of April, I am seized with wonder, and long to be informed whence these travellers come, and whither they go, since they seem to use our hills merely as an inn or baiting place.

Your account of the greater brambling, or snowfleck, is very amusing; and strange it is that such a short-winged bird should delight in such perilous

* Several instances of the Fieldfare breeding in Scotland are recorded, but not often enough to interfere with the general correctness of the text.-ED.

† Mr. Pennant must have been misinformed as to Ringousels remaining in Scotland the whole year. M'Gillivray and his very intelligent correspondents never found them after October until the following April. In June, fully fledged young were found among the Pentland hills; and in July, M'Gillivray himself accidentally met with a whole brood, with the parent birds, in the picturesque valley of Coruisk in Skye.-ED.

voyages over the northern ocean! Some country people in the winter time have every now and then told me that they have seen two or three white larks on our downs; but, on considering the matter, I begin to suspect that these are some stragglers of the birds we are talking of, which sometimes perhaps may rove so far to the southward.

It pleases me to find that white hares are so frequent on the Scottish mountains, and especially as you inform me that it is a distinct species,* for the quadrupeds of Britain are so few, that every new species is a great acquisition.

The eagle-owl, could it be proved to belong to us, is so majestic a bird, that it would grace our fauna much. I never was informed before where wild geese are known to breed.

You admit, I find, that I have proved your fensalicaria to be the lesser reed-sparrow of Ray: and I think you may be secure that I am right; for I took very particular pains to clear up that matter, and had some fair specimens; but, as they were not well preserved, they are decayed already. You will, no doubt, insert it in its proper place in your next edition. Your additional plates will much improve your work.

De Buffon, I know, has described the water shrewmouse; but still I am pleased to find you have dis

*.The White Hare, Lepus variabilis, is found in summer on the summit of the Grampians, and sometimes as far south as Cumberland. In size it is intermediate between the hare and the rabbit, differing essentially from both. It hides under rocks and stones, but does not burrow. In winter it descends to the valleys; its fur becomes gradually lighter, and at length wholly white, except at the nose and tops of the ears, which remain black. In spring, on the approach of warm weather it sheds its fur altogether.-ED.