OF SELBORNE 143 



you that the case has been so from time immemorial : and 

 smile at your simplicity if you ask them whether the 

 situation of these two different breeds might not be 

 reversed? However, an intelligent friend of mine near 

 Chichester is determined to try the experiment; and has 

 this autumn, at the hazard of being laughed at, introduced 

 a parcel of black-faced hornless rams among his horned 

 western ewes. The black-faced poll-sheep have the 

 shortest legs and the finest wool. 



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 concerning 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 redstarts, nightingales, white-throats, black- 

 caps, etc. etc. are very ill provided 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, 

 notwithstanding 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 shepherds 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 plowed 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 



