1 32 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 



The birds, as they stand numerically, belong to the following- 

 Linnsean genera : 



I, 2, 3, Turdus. 9, 10, u, 12, 13, 14, Anas. 



4, Corvus. 15, 1 6, Zcu/0. 



5, 6, 7, Scolopax. 17, Ampelis. 

 8, Columba. 



Birds that sing in the night are but few. 



C " In shadiest covert hid." 

 Nightingale, Lusama. | MILTON. 



Woodlark, Alauda arborea. Suspended in mid air. 



( Passer . arundinaceus \ , 

 Less reed- sparrow, 1 minor 3 Among reeds and willows. 



I should now proceed to such birds as continue to sing after 

 Midsummer, but, as they are rather numerous, they would exceed 

 the bounds of this paper : besides, as this is now the season for 

 remarking on that subject, I am willing to repeat my observations 

 on some birds concerning the continuation of whose song i seem 

 at present to have some doubt. 



I am, etc. 



LETTER II. 



SELBORNE, Nov. 2nd, 1769. 



DEAR SIR, When I did myself the honour to write to you about 

 the end of last June on the subject of natural history, I sent you 

 a list of the summer birds of passage which I have observed in 

 this neighbourhood ; and also a list of the winter birds of passage: 

 I mentioned besides those soft-billed birds that stay with us the 

 winter through in the south of England, and those that are 

 remarkable for singing in the night. 



According to my proposal, I shall now proceed to such birds 

 (singing birds strictly so called) as continue in full song till after 

 Midsummer; and shall range them somewhat in the order in 

 which they first begin to open as the spring advances. 



