The Natural History of Se I borne 201 



may be accounted for from a late spring, a cool and moist 

 summer; but more particularly from vast armies of chafers, 

 or tree-beetles, which, in many places, reduced whole woods 

 to a leafless naked state. These trees shot again at Mid- 

 summer, and then retained their foliage till very late in the 

 year. 



My musical friend, at whose house I am now visiting, has 

 tried all the owls that are his near neighbours with a pitch-pipe 

 set at concert pitch, and finds they all hoot in B flat. He 

 will examine the nightingales next spring. I am, &c. &c. 



