126 RINGOUSELS. 



LETTER XXXVII. 



TO THE SAME. 



Jjj 



SELBORNE, Sept. 14, 1770. 

 DEAR SIR, 



You saw, I find, the ringousels again among 

 their native crags ; and are farther assured that they 

 continue resident in those cold regions the whole 

 year. From whence then do our ringousels migrate 

 so regularly every September, and make their appear- 

 ance again, as if in their return, every April ? They 

 are more early this year than common, for some 

 were seen at the usual hill on the fourth of this 

 month. 



An observing Devonshire gentleman tells me, that 

 they frequent some parts of Dartmoor, and breed 

 there, but leave those haunts about the end of Sep- 

 tember, or beginning of October, and return again 

 about the end of March. 



Another intelligent person assures me, that they 

 breed in great abundance all over the Peak of Derby, 

 and are called there torousels, withdraw in October 

 and ^Nov ember, and return in spring. This informa- 

 tion seems to throw some light on my new migration. 



Scopoli's new work* (which I have just procured,) 

 has its merits, in ascertaining many of the birds of 

 the Tyrol and Carniola. Monographers, come from 

 whence they may, have, I think, fair pretence to 

 challenge some regard and approbation from the 

 lovers of natural history; for, as no man can alone 

 investigate all the works of nature, these partial 

 writers may, each in his department, be more accu- 



* Annus Primus Historico-Naturalis. 



