OF SELBORNE 89 



is, because in the two first seasons their voices are drowned 

 and lost in the general chorus ; in the latter their song 

 becomes distinguishable. Many songsters of the autumn 

 seem to be the young cock red-breasts of that year : not- 

 withstanding the prejudices in their favour, they do much 

 mischief in gardens to the summer-fruits. ^ 



The titmouse, which early in February begins to make 

 two quaint notes, like the whetting of a saw, is the marsh 

 titmouse : the great titmouse sings with three cheerful 

 joyous notes, and begins about the same time. 



Wrens sing all the winter through, frost excepted. 



House-martins came remarkably late this year both in 

 Hampshire and Devonshire : is this circumstance for or 

 against either hiding or migration ^ 



Most birds drink sipping at intervals ; but pigeons take 

 a long continued draught, like quadrupeds. 



Notwithstanding what I have said in a former letter, no 

 grey crows were ever known to breed on Dartmoor ; it was 

 my mistake. 



The appearance and flying of the scarabaeus solstitialis, or 

 fern-chafer, commence with the month of July, and cease 

 about the end of it. These scarabs are the constant food 

 of caprimulgi^ or fern-owls, through that period. They 

 abound on the chalky downs and in some sandy districts, 

 but not in the clays. 



In the garden of the Black-bear inn in the town of 

 Reading is a stream or canal running under the stables and 

 out into the fields on the other side of the road : in this 

 water are many carps, which lie rolling about in sight, 

 being fed by travellers, who amuse themselves by tossing 

 them bread : but as soon as the weather grows at all severe 

 these fishes are no longer seen, because they retire under 

 the stables, where they remain till the return of spring. 

 Do they lie in a torpid state ? if they do not, how are they 

 supported .'' 



The note of the white-throat, which is continually 

 repeated, and often attended with odd gesticulations on the 



^They eat also the berriei of the ivT^, the honey-suckle, and the euonj- 

 mui europaeuSy or spindle-tree. 



