OF SELBORNE. 69 



LETTER XXIV. 



TO THE SAME. 



Selborne, May 29, 1769. 



DEAR SIR, 



THE scarabceus fulio I know very well, having seen it in col- 

 lections ; but have never been able to discover one wild in its 

 natural state. Mr. Banks told me he thought it might be 

 found on the sea-coast. 



On the thirteenth of April I went to the sheep-down, where 

 the ring-ousels have been observed to make their appearance at 

 spring and fall, in their way perhaps to the north or south ; 

 and was much pleased to see three birds about the usual spot. 

 We shot a cock and a hen ; they were plump and in high 

 condition. The hen had but very small rudiments of eggs 

 within her, which proves they are late breeders; whereas those 

 species of the thrush kind that remain with us the whole year 

 have fledged young before that time. In their crops was no- 

 thing very distinguishable, but somewhat that seemed like 

 blades of vegetables nearly digested. In autumn they feed 

 on haws and yew-berries, and in the spring on ivy-berries. I 

 dressed one of these birds, and found it juicy and well-fla-r 

 voured. It is remarkable that they make but a few days stay 

 in their spring visit, but rest near a fortnight at Michaelmas, 

 These birds, from the observations of three springs and two 

 autumns, are most punctual in their return; and exhibit a new 

 migration unnoticed by the writers, who supposed they never 

 were to be seen in any of the southern counties. 



One of my neighbours lately brought me a new salicaria, 

 which at first I suspected might have proved your willow- 

 lark, but, on a nicer examination, it answered much better to 

 the description of that species which you shot at Revesby, in 

 Lincolnshire. My bird I describe thus : " It is a size less 



c For this scdicaria see letter August 30, 1769. 



