OF SELBORNE. 79 



with leaves and moss, in which they conceal themselves for the 

 winter : but I never could find that they stored in any winter 

 provision, as some quadrupeds certainly do. 



I have discovered an anecdote with respect to the fieldfare 

 (turdus pilaris), which I think is particular enough: this 

 bird, though it sits on trees in the day-time, and procures the 

 greatest part of it's food from white-thorn hedges ; yea, more- 

 over, builds on very high trees ; as may be seen by the fauna 

 suecica; yet always appears with us to roost on the ground. 

 They are seen to come in flocks just before it is dark, and to 

 settle and nestle among the heath on our forest. And besides, 

 the larkers, in dragging their nets by night, frequently catch 

 them in the wheat-stubbles : while the bat-fowlers, who take 

 many red-wings in the hedges, never entangle any of this 

 species. Why these birds, in the matter of roosting, should 

 differ from all their congeners, and from themselves also with 

 respect to their proceedings by day, is a fact for which I am 

 by no means able to account. 



I have somewhat to inform you of concerning the moose- 

 deer; but in general foreign animals fall seldom in my way ; 

 my little intelligence is confined to the narrow sphere of my 

 own observations at home. 



LETTER XXVIII. 



TO THE SAME. 



Selborne, March, 1770. 



ON Michaelmas-day 1768 I managed to get a sight of the 

 female moose belonging to the Duke of Richmond, at Good- 

 wood; but was greatly disappointed, when I arrived at the 



house, which overhung an area, it would go to the very edge ; and look- 

 ing over as if to ascertain if the descent were safe, it would roll up into a 

 ball in the very act of throwing itself down ; and, falling upon its elastic 

 spines, it would, in a few seconds after alighting upon the stones, open and 

 run off, wholly unhurt by this voluntary fall of at least ten feet T. B.] 



