OF SELBORNE. 39 



in the winter. But with regard to their migration, what diffi- 

 culties attend that supposition! that such feeble bad fliers 

 (who the summer long never flit but from hedge to hedge) 

 should be able to traverse vast seas and continents, in order 

 to enjoy milder seasons amidst the regions of Africa ! 



LETTER XIII. 



TO THE SAME. 



Selborne, Jan. 22, 1768. 



SIR, 



As in one of your former letters you expressed the more satis- 

 faction from my correspondence on account of my living in 

 the most southerly county ; so now I may return the compli- 

 ment, and expect to have my curiosity gratified by your living 

 much more to the North. 



For many years past I have observed that towards Christ- 

 mas vast flocks of chaffinches have appeared in the fields; 

 many more, I used to think, than could be hatched in any one 

 neighbourhood. But, when I came to observe them more 

 narrowly, I was amazed to find that they seemed to be almost 

 all hens*. I communicated my suspicions to some intelligent 

 neighbours, who, after taking pains about the matter, declared 



* [Professor Newton, in the fourth edition of Yarrell's ' Birds ' edited 

 by him (vol. 2, p. 70-71), has the following passage on this phase in the 

 histoiy of the chaffinch: "We certainly receive, in autumn or early 

 winter, most likely from Norway and Sweden, large flocks of immigrant 

 chaffinches, which seem composed almost entirely of females, though 

 young males that have not yet put on the external distinction of their 

 sex may be among them. These strangers appear chiefly on the east 

 coast of England, from Yorkshire southward; but how far they ( penetrate 

 to the interior, or whether any great number of them remain with us till 

 spring, are questions hitherto unanswered." The whole of Professor New- 

 ton's treatment of this subject is very interesting, but it is too long for a 

 footnote. It is complete as far as our knowledge goes; but further obser- 

 vations are necessary to reconcile apparent incongruities, and to fill up 

 gaps in the history. T. B.] 



