WILD LIFE: FURRED AND FEATHERED. 41 



appended to some editions of White's Natural History of 

 Selborne, where the earliest and latest dates on which that 

 ardent lover of nature in Hampshire noted their arrivals 

 and departures, stand opposite to Markwick's notes of the 

 same, as recorded near Battle, in Sussex. The weather, 

 which often varies much in different localities, also 

 influences the movements of birds greatly, and so the 

 varied statements as to the comings and goings of migrants 

 are easily accounted for. 



About the slopes of the South Down hills myriads of 

 small snails are now providing food for numbers of birds, 

 appearing and vanishing according to the changes in the 

 weather. These snails have remained in a torpid state 

 during the winter, in holes of walls, under large stones, 

 and in the ground, making their appearance only if the 

 weather became very mild. Snails are said to have existed 

 hidden away where no egress was possible, without food of 

 any kind, for two and even three years. And speaking of 

 snails, it is strange that they are not in more common use 

 amongst us as an article of diet, since the Romans 

 introduced the one called helix pomatia into our country, 

 as a luxury of which they were fond. They are in great 

 request in some parts of the Continent When the 

 mornings and evenings are moist and warm, the snails are 

 everywhere, and worms show up also in great quantities 

 that delight the plover. 



The great plover, stone curlew, or thicknee, may be 

 found on the downs and in the greater fields ; his peculiar 

 wild call note betrays his presence often, and you hear 

 him "clamour" when you cannot catch a sight of him. 

 The lonely shepherd on the Downs is not fond of his 

 peculiar cry. 



