86 WHITE 



distinguishable. Many songsters of the autumn seem to be 

 the young cock redbreasts of that year : notwithstanding the 

 prejudices in their favor, they do much mischief in gardens 

 to the summer-fruits. 1 



The titmouse, which early in February begins to make two 

 quaint notes, like the whetting of a saw, is the marsh titmouse ; 

 the great titmouse sings with three cheerful joyous notes, and 

 begins about the same time. 



Wrens sing all the winter through, frost excepted. 



House-martins came remarkably late this year both in Hamp- 

 shire and Devonshire : is this circumstance for or against either 

 hiding or migration ? 



Most birds drink sipping at intervals ; but pigeons take a 

 long-continued draught, like quadrupeds. 



Notwithstanding what I have said in a former letter, no 

 gray crows were ever known to breed on Dartmoor ; it was 

 my mistake. 



The appearance and flying of the Scarabceus solstitialis, or 

 fern-chafer, commence with the month of July, and cease about 

 the end of it. These scarabs are the constant food of Capri- 

 mulgi, or fern-owls, through that period. They abound on the 

 chalky downs and in some sandy districts, but not in the clays. 



In the garden of the Black Bear inn in the town of Reading, 

 is a stream or canal running under the stables and out into the 

 fields on the other side of the road : in this water are many 

 carps, which lie rolling about in sight, being fed by travellers, 

 who amuse themselves by tossing them bread ; but as soon as 

 the weather grows at all severe, these fishes are no longer seen, 

 because they retire under the stables, where they remain till 

 the return of spring. Do they lie in a torpid state ? If they 

 do not, how are they supported ? 2 



The note of the whitethroat, which is continually repeated, 

 and often attended with odd gesticulations on the wing, is harsh 

 and displeasing. These birds seem of a pugnacious disposi- 

 tion ; for they sing with an erected crest and attitudes of rivalry 

 and defiance ; are shy and wild in breeding time, avoiding neigh- 

 borhoods, and haunting lonely lanes and commons ; nay, even 

 the very tops of the Sussex Downs, where there are bushes 

 and covert ; but in July and August they bring their broods 



