220 NATURAL HISTORY 



The GOD of SEASONS ; whose pervading power 

 Controls the sun, or sheds the fleecy shower : 

 He bids each flower his quick'ning word obey ; 

 Or to each lingering bloom enjoins delay. 



LETTER XLII. 



TO THE SAME. 



" Omnibus animalibus reliquis certus et uniusmodi, et in suo cuique 

 " genere incessus est : aves solse vario meatu feruntur, et in terra, et in 

 " aere." 



PLIN. Hist. Nat. lib. x. cap. 38. 



Selborne, Aug. 7, 1778. 



DEAR SIR, 



A GOOD ornithologist should be able to distinguish birds by 

 their air as well as by their colours and shape ; on the ground 

 as well as on the wing, and in the bush as well as in the hand. 

 For, though it must not be said that every species of birds has 

 a manner peculiar to itself, yet there is somewhat in most 

 genera at least, that at first sight discriminates them, and 

 enables a judicious observer to pronounce upon them with 

 some certainty. Put a bird in motion 



" Et vera incessu patuit " 

 Thus kites and buzzards sail round in circles with wings 

 expanded and motionless ; and it is from their gliding man- 

 ner that the former are still called in the north of England 

 gleads, from the Saxon verb glidan to glide. The kestrel, or 

 wind-hover, has a peculiar mode of hanging in the air in one 

 place, his wings all the while being briskly agitated. Hen- 

 harriers fly low over heaths or fields of corn, and beat the 

 ground regularly like a pointer or setting-dog. Owls move in 

 a buoyant manner, as if lighter than the air ; they seem to 

 want ballast. There is a peculiarity belonging to ravens that 

 must draw the attention even of the most incurious they 

 spend all their leisure time in striking and cuffing each other 

 on the wing in a kind of playful skirmish ; and, when they 



