MISCELLANEOUS LETTERS. 237 



undertaking, in which I am got forward; and as those of 

 Hampshire and Wiltshire are nearly congenial (the coast 

 excepted), some species, I presume, are more frequently met 

 with about you than with us: will you excuse my mentioning 

 a few that, should they fall in your way, you will confer a 

 considerable obligation on me by favouring me with them ? 

 The hawks and owls are difficult to get: of the former I want 

 all except the sparrow, kestrel, and common buzzard ; of the 

 latter all the eared and the little owl. The great butcher-bird 

 and wood-chat, goat-sucker, cross-bill, aberdevine or siskin, 

 and spotted gallinule, with many cloven and web-footed water- 

 birds, together with any of their eggs ; and as you mention 

 snipes and teals having bred near you, their eggs would be 

 highly acceptable, with others not common which you may be 

 able to obtain. And in return, Sir, if there is anything in my 

 former or future researches that can afford you any satis- 

 faction, I shall with the greatest pleasure communicate. 



That amiable and excellent naturalist, Mr. Pennant, has 

 done me the honour to say I have discovered some things to 

 him he was not before acquainted with ; and I flatter myself 

 I have other notes in store when I have more time to write to 

 him more largely upon the subject: this you know is the 

 busy season for a naturalist, and the days are not half long 

 enough for me. 



A fine morning called me from this, and in my walk my 

 ears discovered a note I had never before heard. I pursued 

 it into the thick of a wood, and after much difficulty killed 

 the bird as it was delivering its song (if I may so call it) 

 from the branch of an oak tree. It proved to be a willow- 

 wren ; its note was very different from any I had ever heard 

 before, somewhat resembling a note of the blue titmouse. It 

 was continued without variety, like the grasshopper-lark, but 

 not quite so quick or shrill, nor of so long duration ; between 

 each song the pause was considerable. The note I confess 

 has staggered me ; but its appearance, size, &c. discover 

 nothing new. The common willow-wren, I well know, has 

 two very distinct songs. The first after their arrival, before 

 they are paired, I considered as their love-call; the other their 



