OF SELBORNE. 197 
morial, and smile at your simplicity if you ask 
them whether the situation of these two different 
breeds might not be reversed. (However, an in- 
telligent friend of mine near Chichester is deter- 
mined to try the experiment; and has this autumn, 
at the hazard of being laughed at, introduced a 
arcel of black-faced hornless rams among his 
onan Western ewes.) The black-faced poll- 
sheep have the shortest legs and the finest wool. 
As I had hardly ever before travelled these 
Downs at so late a season of the year [December 
9th], | was determined to keep as sharp a look-out 
as possible so near the southern coast with respect 
to the summer short-winged birds of passage. We 
make great inquiries concerning the withdrawing 
of the swallow kind, without examining enough 
into the causes why this tribe is never to be seen in. 
winter ; for, entre nous, the disappearing of the lat- 
ter is more marvellous than that of the former, 
and much more unaccountable. The hirundines, 
if they please, are certainly capable of migration, 
and yet, no doubt, are often found in a torpid state ; 
but redstarts, nightingales, whitethroats, blackcaps, 
&c., &c., are very ill provided for long flights ; 
have never been once found, that I ever heard of, 
in a torpid state; and yet can never be supposed, 
in such troops, from year to year, to dodge and 
elude the eyes of the curious and inquisitive, which 
from day to day discern the other small birds that 
are known to abide our winters. But, notwith- 
standing all my care, I saw nothing like a summer 
bird of passage; and, what is more strange, not 
one wheatear, though they abound so in the au. 
tumn as to be a considerable perquisite to the shep- 
