1791 BIRDS AND LIGHTHOUSES 229 



being 50 years old, have rather over-stood their time ; and 

 besides, the severity of December, 1784, has occasioned 

 irreparable damages among the branches. Thus much for 

 trees. Lord Stawell has lately sent me such a bird, sprung 

 and shot in his coverts, as I never saw before, or shall again. 

 I pronounced it to be a mule, bred between a cock pheasant, 

 and a pea-hen. 



You say wood-cocks in their passage strike against light- 

 houses on your coast : a gentleman tells me, that at Penzance 

 sea-fowls frequently dash in the night against windows 

 where they see a light. My well is 63 feet in depth ; yet 

 in very dry seasons, as last autumn, it is nearly exhausted : 

 yet you would be surprised to see how few inches of rain 

 falling will replenish it again. How do rains insinuate 

 themselves to such depths ? The rains this winter have been 

 prodigious! In November last 7 inches; in December 

 6 inches. The whole rain at Selborne in 1790 was 32 

 inches. Sure such thunder, and lightning and winds have 

 never fallen out within your observation in one winter! 

 Had I known You 30 years ago, I should have been much 

 pleased ; because I would have gone to have seen you ; and 

 perhaps You might have been prevailed on, when all our 

 timber was standing, to have returned the visit. In the 

 year 1746 I lived for six months at Thorney in the Isle 

 of Ely, to settle an executorship, and dispose of live stock : 

 there I lost nine oxen by their eating yew, as mentioned 

 in my book. I hope you will write not long hence. With 

 the truest respect and esteem I remain. 



Your most humble servant, 



Gil. White. 



The dark butterfly which you saw was the papilio urticce : 

 it is often more early than the yellow papilio rhamni. 

 At this moment the Barometer stands somewhat below 

 28*5 in. ; the rain this day has been very great from 

 the S.E.! 



