254 GILBERT WHITE OF SELBOENE 1774 



Scolopaces we have two, the Curlew and the Common Snipe, 

 which breed upon the boggy parts of our moors. The first 

 of these I saw this season March 30th, the other is with us all 

 the year : the Jack snipe too I have reason to think, from 

 the numbers I saw of them in April last, breeds in the same 

 places with the two former. The Whistling-plover breeds 

 upon some of the largest and most retired bogs in the 

 extensive forest of Dartmoor ; and about some of our little 

 rivulets we have a little bird of the Scolopax tribe which 

 now and then breeds with us; it is known among the 

 common people by the name of Sanderlin;* but whether it 

 be different from the stint or no I can't tell, having never 

 seen any of them in hand. The turtle is a scarce bird in 

 Devonshire; and seen there, as far as I can learn, only in 

 the summer. We have one bird, which, though a scarce one, 

 take England through, is often met with about our brooks : 

 I mean the water-ousel ; it commonly builds under the 

 arches, or in the piers of old bridges. 



The Starling, which breeds in Oxon., Berks, Wilts, Dorset, 

 and, I suppose, Hants, is never seen, that I know of, in 

 Devon during summer ; pray, sir, can you inform me what 

 should make the last county more unsuitable to this bird 

 in summer than the five before-mentioned counties? 



A rare Plant of the Orchis family, Limodorum austriacum 



of Eay, is said to grow near Alton. If you could procure 



a specimen or two for me you will greatly oblige me, who 



am with much esteem 



Y' humble servant, 



S. Newbery. 



♦ It was figured by Albin under this name in 1738, but is what is now 

 commonly known as the summer -snipe or common sandpiper, the name 

 aanderling being now appropriated to a very different bird. — A. N. 



