116 NATURAL HISTORY 



These Girds, as they stand numerically, belong to the follow- 

 ing Linncean genera : 



1, 2, 3, Turdus: 0, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 



4, Corvus : Anas : 



5, 6. 7, Scolopax : 15, 16, Loxia : 

 8, Columba: 17. Ampelis : 



Birds that sing in the night are but few. 



I " In shadiest covert hid." 

 Nightingale, Luscima: j MILTON. 



Woodlark, Alauda arborea : Suspended in mid air. 



'Less reed-sparrow, Passer arundinaceus minor : Among reeds and willows. 



I should now proceed to such birds as continue to sing after 

 Midsummer, but, as they are rather numerous, they would 

 exceed the bounds of this paper : besides, as this is now the 

 season for remarking on that subject, I am willing to repeat 

 my observations on some birds concerning the continuation of 

 whose song I seem at present to have some doubt. 



I am, &c. 



LETTER II. 



TO THE SAME. 



Selborne, Nov. 2, 1769. 

 DEAR SIR, 



WHEN I did myself the honour to write to you about the end 

 of last June on the subject of natural history, I sent you a list 

 of the summer-birds of passage which I have observed in this 

 neighbourhood ; and also a list of the winter-birds of passage : 

 I mentioned besides those soft-billed birds that stay with us 

 the winter through in the south of England, and those that are 

 remarkable for singing in the night. 



According to my proposal, I shall now proceed to such birds 

 (singing birds strictly so called) as continue in full song till 

 after Midsummer; and shall range them somewhat in the 

 order in which they first begin to open as the spring advances. 



