156 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 



I am glad you are making inquiries from Linnaeus concerning 

 the woodcock : it is expected of him that he should be able to 

 account for the motions and manner of life of the animals of his 

 own " Fauna." 



Faunists, as you observe, are too apt to acquiesce in bare 

 descriptions, and a few synonyms : the reason is plain ; because all 

 that may be done at home in a man's study, but the investigation 

 of the life and conversation of animals, is a concern of much more 

 trouble and difficulty, and is not be attained but by the active and 

 inquisitive, and by those that reside much in the country. 



Foreign systematics 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 general 

 terms. But our countryman, the excellent Mr. Ray, is the only 

 describer that conveys some precise idea in every term or word, 

 maintaining his superiority over his followers and imitators in 

 spite of the advantage 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 observed to be very intent on grazing against stormy 

 wet evenings. 



I am, etc., etc. 



LETTER XI. 



SELBORNE, Feb. %th, 1772. 



DEAR SIR, When I ride about in the winter, and see such pro- 

 digious 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 



