140 NATURAL HISTORY 



Faunists, as you observe, are too apt to acquiesce in bare 

 descriptions, and a few synonyms : the reason is plain ; be- 

 cause all that may be done at home in a man's study, but the 

 investigation of the life and conversation of animals, is a 

 concern of much more trouble and difficulty, and is not to be 

 attained but by the active and inquisitive, and by those that 

 reside much in the country. 



Foreign systematics are, I observe, much too vague in their 

 specific differences ; which are almost universally constituted 

 by one or two particular marks, the rest of the description 

 running in general terms. But our countryman, the excellent 

 Mr. Ray, is the only describer that conveys some precise idea 

 in every term or word, maintaining his superiority over his 

 followers and imitators in spite of the advantage of fresh 

 discoveries and modern information. 



At this distance of years * it is not in my power to recollect 

 at what periods woodcocks used to be sluggish or alert when 

 I was a sportsman : but, upon my mentioning this circum- 

 stance to a friend, he thinks he has observed them to be 

 remarkably listless against snowy foul weather : if this should 

 be the case, then the inaptitude for flying arises only from 

 an eagerness for food ; as sheep are observed to be very intent 

 on grazing against stormy wet evenings. 



I am, &c. &c. 



LETTER XL 



TO THE SAME. 



Selborne, Feb. 8, 1772. 

 DEAR SIR, 



WHEN I ride about in the winter, and see such prodigious 

 flocks of various kinds of birds, I cannot help admiring at 



_ * [This remark shows that White gave up shooting rather early in 

 life. He was at this time only 61. T. B.] 



