NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 265 



been known to haunt, and have always found that those birds have 

 readily penetrated them. While at work they make a rapping 

 noise that may be heard at a considerable distance. 



You that understand both the theory and practical part ot music 

 may best inform us why harmony or melody should so strangely 

 assist some men, as it were by recollection, for days after the 

 concert is over. What I mean the following passage will most 

 readily explain : 



" Praehabebat porro vocibus humanis, instrumentisque harmo- 

 nicis musicam il.lam avium: non quod alia quoque non delectaretur: 

 sed quod ex musica human a relinqueretur in animo continens 

 quaedam, attentionemque et somnum con turbans agitatio ; dum 

 ascensus, exscensus, tenores, ac mutationes illae sonorum, et con- 

 sonantiarum euntque, redeuntque per phantasiam : cum nihil 

 tale relinqui possit ex modulationibus avium, quse, quod non sunt 

 perinde a nobis imitabiles, non possunt perinde internam facul- 

 tatem commovere." Gassendus in Vita PeireskiL 



This curious quotation strikes me much by so well representing 

 my own case, and by describing what I have so often felt, but 

 never could so well express. When I hear fine music I am haunted 

 with passages therefrom night and day ; and especially at first 

 waking, which, by their importunity, give me more uneasiness than 

 pleasure ; elegant lessons still tease my imagination, and recur 

 irresistibly to my recollection at seasons, and even when I am 

 desirous of thinking of more serious matters. 



I am, etc. 



LETTER LVII. 



A RARE, and I think a new, little bird frequents my garden, 

 which I have great reason to think is the pettichaps : it is common 

 in some parts of the kingdom ; and I have received formerly 

 several dead specimens from Gibraltar. This bird much resembles 

 the white-throat, but has a more white or rather silvery breast and 

 belly ; is restless and active, like the willow-wrens, and hops from 



