176 NATURAL HISTORY 
Foreign systematists are, I observe, much too 
vague in their specific differences, which are almost 
universally constituted by one or two particular 
marks, the rest of the description running in gen- 
eral terms. But our countryman, the excellent Mr. 
Ray, is the only describer that conveys some pre- 
cise idea in every term or word, maintaining his su- 
periority over his followers and imitators in spite 
of the advantages of fresh discoveries and modern 
information. 
At this distance of years it is not in my power 
to recollect at what periods woodcocks used to be 
sluggish or alert when I was a sportsman ; but, 
upon my mentioning this circumstance to a friend, 
he thinks he has observed them to be remarkably 
listless against snowy foul weather: if this should 
be the case, then the inaptitude for flying arises 
only from an eagerness for food, as sheep are ob- 
served to be very intent on grazing against stormy 
wet evenings. 
LETTER XI. 
Selborne, Feb. 8, 1772. 
Dear Sir,—WueEn I ride about in winter, and 
see such prodigious flocks of various kinds of birds, 
I cannot help admiring at these congregations, and 
wishing that it was in my power to account for 
those appearances, almost peculiar to the season. 
The two great motives which regulate the proceed- 
ings of the brute creation are love of their offspring 
and hunger. Whether either of these should seem 
to be the ruling passion in the matter of congre- 
