122 The Natural ^History of Se I borne 



those haunts about the end of September, or beginning of 

 October, and return again about the end of March. 



Another intelligent person assures me that they breed in 

 great abundance all over the peak of Derby, and are called 

 there tor-ousels ; withdraw in October and November, and 

 return in spring. This information seems to throw some 

 light on my new migration. 



Scopoli's 1 new work (which I have just procured) has its 

 merit in ascertaining many of the birds of the Tirol and Car- 

 niola. Monographers, come from whence they may, have, I 

 think, fair pretence to challenge some regard and approbation 

 from the lovers of natural history ; for, as no man can alone 

 investigate all the works of nature, these partial writers may, 

 each in their department, be more accurate in their discoveries, 

 and freer from errors, than more general writers ; and so by 

 degrees may pave the way to an universal correct natural 

 history. Not that Scopoli is so circumstantial and attentive 

 to the life and conversation of his birds as I could wish : he 

 advances some false facts ; as when he says of the Irinmdo 

 urbica that " pullos extra nidum non nutrit." This assertion I 

 know to be wrong from repeated observation this summer; 

 for house-martins do feed their young flying, though it must 

 be acknowledged not so commonly as the house-swallow ; and 

 the feat is done in so quick a manner as not to be perceptible 

 to indifferent observers. He also advances some (I was going 

 to say) improbable facts; as when he says of the woodcock 

 that "pullos rostro portal fugiens ab Jioste." But candour 

 forbids me to say absolutely that any fact is false, because 

 I have never been witness to such a fact. I have only to 

 remark that the long unwieldy bill of the woodcock is perhaps 

 the worst adapted of any among the winged creation for such 

 a feat of natural affection. 



I am, &c. 



1 The Annns Primus Historico-Naturalis* ED. 



