1792 CEASED TO BE A SPORTSMAN 245 



gentleman here now on a visit, the son of our late Vicar 

 Etty, who assures me, that at Canton he has seen the 

 Chinese reading English books; and has heard them con- 

 verse sensibly on the manners, and police of this kingdom. 

 The Chif-Chaf of this village is the smallest willow-wren 

 of my History. Once I had a spaniel that was pupped 

 in a rabbit burrough on the verge of Wolmer forest. 

 Though I have long ceased to be a sportsman, yet I still 

 love a dog; and am attended daily by a beautiful spaniel 

 with long ears, and a spotted nose and legs, who amuses 

 me in my walks by sometimes springing a pheasant, or 

 partridge, and seldom by flushing a woodcock, of late 

 become with us a very rare bird. Remember the story 

 of Pylades and Orestes ; and do not say that exalted friend- 

 ship never existed among men.* Chif-Chaf, the first bird 

 of passage, was heard here March 20th : Swallow was seen 

 March 26th: Nightingale^ and Cuckoo April 9fch: House- 

 martins April 12th : Bedstart April 19th : Swift April 14th : 

 Fern-owl heard May 19th: Fly-caicher, the latest summer 

 bird, May 20th. We have experienced a very black wet 

 summer, and solstice ; but none of those floods and devasta- 

 tions mentioned in the newspapers ! Indeed we know no 

 floods here, but frequent rains. Yet in warm summers we 

 have as fine melons, and grapes, and wall-fruit as I have 

 ever seen. July at an average produces the most rain of 

 any English month. This last measured 5 in. and 15 h. 

 Pray, good Sir, procure better ink; your's is so pale, that 

 it often renders your neat hand scarcely legible ! I am now 

 offering my intelligent young neighbours sixpence for every 

 authentic anecdote that they can bring me respecting Fern- 

 owls, and will give you the same sum for the same informa- 

 tion. As I was coming over our down after sun-set lately, 

 a cock bird amused us much by flying round and settling 



* In his last letter Marsham had told a touching story of the affection of 

 one dog for another. 



