SELBORNE 293 



changes in the bird population of Selborne parish, 

 and of the southern counties generally. A few 

 small species — hawfinch, pretty chaps, and gold- 

 crest — were much more common now than in his 

 day ; but a very different and sadder story had to 

 be told of most large birds. Not only had the 

 honey buzzard never returned to nest on the beeches 

 of the Hanger since 1780, but it had continued to 

 decrease everywhere in England and was now 

 extinct. The raven, too, was lost to England as an 

 inland breeder. It could not now be said that 

 " there are bustards on the wide downs near Bright- 

 helmstone," nor indeed anywhere in the kingdom. 

 The South Downs were unchanged, and there were 

 still pretty rides and prospects round Lewes ; but 

 he might now make his autumn journey to Ringmer 

 without seeing kites and buzzards, since these had 

 both vanished ; nor would he find the chough 

 breeding at Beachy Head, and all along the Sussex 

 coast. It would also be necessary to mention the 

 disappearance of the quail, and the growing scarcity 

 of other once abundant species, such as the stone 

 plover and curlew, and even of the white owl, which 

 no longer inhabited its ancient breeding-place beneath 

 the caves of Selborne Church. 



Finally, after discussing these and various other 



