174 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 



As I had hardly ever before travelled these downs at so late a 

 season of the year, I 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 concern- 

 ing 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 latter .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 red-starts, 

 nightingales, white-throats, black-caps, etc., etc., are very ill pro- 

 vided for long flights ; have never been once found, as 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 wheat-ear, though they abound 

 so in the autumn as to be a considerable perquisite to the shep- 

 herds that take them ; and though many are to be seen to my 

 knowledge all the winter through in many parts of the south of 

 England. The most intelligent shepherds tell me that some few 

 of these birds appear on the downs in March, and then withdraw 

 to breed probably in warrens and stone-quarries : now and then a 

 nest is ploughed up in a fallow on the downs under a furrow, but 

 it is thought a rarity. At the time of wheat-harvest they begin to 

 be taken in great numbers ; are sent for sale in vast quantities to 

 Brightelmstone and Tunbridge ; and appear at the tables of all 

 the gentry that entertain with any degree of elegance. About 

 Michaelmas they retire and are seen no more till March. Though 

 these birds are, when in season, in great plenty on the south 

 downs round Lewes, yet at East Bourn, which is the eastern 

 extremity of those downs, they abound much more. One thing 

 is very remarkable, that though in the height of the season so 

 many hundreds of dozens are taken, yet they never are seen to 

 flock ; and it is a rare thing to see more than three or four at a 

 time; so that there must be a perpetual flitting and constant 



