154 THE NATURAL HISTORY [LETT. 



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, blackcaps, which 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 inquisi- 

 tive, 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 wheatear, 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 know- 

 ledge 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 Brighton 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- 

 bourne, 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 progressive succession. It does 

 not appear that any wheatears are taken to the westward of 

 Houghton bridge, which stands on the river Arun. 



I did not fail to look particularly after my new migration of 

 ring-ousels ; and to take notice whether they continued on the 

 downs to this season of the year ; as I had formerly remarked 

 them in the month of October all the way from Chichester to 

 Lewes wherever there were any shrubs and coverts : but not one 



