58 WHITE 



agination, that they became productive of a composition that 

 may perhaps amuse you for a quarter of an hour when next I 

 have the honor of writing to you. 



LETTER XXIV 



SELBORNE, May 2gth, 1769. 



DEAR SIR, The scarabaus fullo I know very well, having 

 seen it in collections ; 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 seacoast. 



On the 1 3th 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 these 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 nothing very dis- 

 tinguishable, but somewhat that seemed like blades of vege- 

 tables 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 flavored. It is re- 

 markable 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 southern countries. 



One of my neighbors 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 than 

 the grasshopper-lark; the head, back, and coverts of the 

 wings, of & dusky brown, without those dark spots of the 



