136 NATURAL. HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 
newly-discovered migraters) scattered, at intervals, all along the 
Sussex downs, from Chichester to Lewes. Let them come from 
whence they will, it looks very suspicious that they are cantoned 
along the coast in order to pass the channel when severe weather 
advances. They visit us again in April, as it should seem, in their 
return; and are not to be found in the dead of winter. It is 
remarkable that they are very tame, and seem to have no manner 
of apprehensions of danger from a person witha gun. There are 
bustards on the wide downs near Brighthelmstone. No doubt you 
are acquainted with the Sussex downs ; the prospects and rides 
round Lewes are most lovely ! 
As I rode along near the coast I kept a very sharp look-out in 
the lanes and woods, hoping I might, at this time of the year, have 
discovered some of the summer short-winged birds of passage 
crowding towards the coast in order for their departure: but it 
was very extraordinary that I never saw a redstart, white-throat, 
black-cap, uncrested wren, flycatcher, &c. And I remember to 
have made the same remark in former years, as I usually come to 
this place annually about this time. The birds most common 
along the coast, at present, are the stone-chatters, winchats, 
buntings, linnets, some few wheat-ears, titlarks, &c. Swallows 
and house-martins abound yet, induced to prolong their stay by 
this soft, still, dry season. 
A land tortoise, which has been kept for thirty years in a little 
walled court belonging to the house where I now am visiting, 
retires under ground about the middle of November, and comes 
forth again about the middle of April. When it first appears in 
the spring it discovers very little inclination towards food ; but in 
the height of summer grows voracious ; and then as the summer 
declines its appetite declines; so that for the last six weeks in 
autumn it hardly eats at all. Milky plants, such as lettuces, 
dandelions, sowthistles, are its favourite dish. Ina neighbouring 
village one was kept tiil by tradition it was supposed to be an 
hundred years old. An instance of vast longevity in such a poor 
reptile ! 
