1775 A FLOCK OF SPOON-BILLS 281 



many species of Mitscce came forth. Chrysomela Gottingensis 

 begins to come forth. 



Brother Thomas, Molly White, and myself came down to 

 this place on Tuesday last; on Wednesday next Harry's boy is 

 to be baptised ; and on Friday we are to return to Selborne. 



I have just dug away forty loads of earth from the end 

 of my kitchen, and have now set my house above ground in 

 all parts. 



Mr. Halliday* behaves very well, and improves so much, 

 that his friends are well pleased with the pains that have 

 been taken with him. His parts, though somewhat back- 

 ward, and slow, promise to be solid. 



Building is very infectious and catching ; I am so pleased 

 with Harry's new parlour, that I want to go home and build 

 one. 



A certain plea of license against the incumbent's taking 

 all the duty in person can avail him nothing. Every man 

 may, if he chooses, do his own business himself, certainly. 



A flock of Spoon-bills was seen last winter near Yarmouth 

 in Norfolk : one was shot and sent to Curtis, t who showed 

 it to brother Thomas. This is a rare bird indeed in England, 

 though common in Holland, and must have migrated across 

 the German Ocean, no narrow frith, in spite of all that Mr. 

 Barrington can say to the contrary. That gent, is got into 

 some fracas with the K. S. : so that, I suspect, no more of my 

 Hirzmdines will be " redde." 



I will send you in my next what Chaucer says about 

 gossamer ; it is wonderful that so remarkable and prognostic 

 a phenomenon should escape Thomson, the naturalist poet. 



As America is at present the subject of conversation, 

 it may be matter of some amusement to you to send you a 



* Mr. Francis Alexander Halliday, afterwards Captain, R.N., married 

 Ann, daughter of his tutor, the Rev. Henry "White. 



t William Curtis, the well-known botanist and entomologist. He was 

 born at Alton, and probably was well known to Gilbert White. — A. N. 



