120 WHITE 



while your thoughts run on the subject of migration. See 

 " Amoenitates Academicae," Vol. IV., p. 565. 



Birds may be so circumstanced as to be obliged to migrate 

 in one country, and not in another : but the grallce (which 

 procure their food from marshes and boggy grounds) must in 

 winter forsake the more northerly parts of Europe, or perish 

 for want of food. 



I am glad you are making inquiries from Linnaeus concern- 

 ing the woodcock : it is expected of him that he should be 

 able to account for the motions and manner of life of the 

 animals of his own " Fauna." 



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 con- 

 cern of much more trouble and difficulty, and is not to be at- 

 tained 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 dis- 

 coveries 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, etc., etc. 



