OF SELBORNE 117 



Newhaven ; and the Cornish chough builds, I know, all 

 along the chalky cliffs of the Sussex shore. 



I was greatly pleased to see little parties of ring-ousels 

 (my newly discovered migraters) scattered, at intervals, all 

 along the Sussex downs from Chichester to Lewes. Let 

 them come from whence they will, it looks very suspicious 

 that they are cantoned along the coast in order to pass the 

 channel when severe weather advances. They visit us 

 again in April, as it should seem, in their return ; and are 

 not to be found in the dead of winter. It is remarkable 

 that they are very tame, and seem to have no manner of 

 apprehensions of danger from a person with a gun. There 

 are bustards on the wide downs near Brighthelmstone. 

 No doubt you are acquainted with the Sussex downs : the 

 prospects and rides round Lewes are most lovely ! 



As I rode along near the coast I kept a very sharp look 

 out in the lanes and woods, hoping I might, at this time 

 of the year, have discovered some of the summer short- 

 winged birds of passage crowding towards the coast in 

 order for their departure : but it was very extraordinary 

 that I never saw a redstart, white-throat, black-cap, un- 

 crested wren, fly-catcher, etc. And I remember to have 

 made the same remark in former years, as I usually come 

 to this place annually about this time. The birds most 

 common along the coast at present are the stone-chatters, 

 whinchats, buntings, linnets, some few wheat-ears, titlarks, 

 etc. Swallows and house-martins abound yet, induced to 

 prolong their stay by this soft, still, dry season. 



A land tortoise, which has been kept for thirty years in 

 a little walled court belonging to the house where I now 

 am visiting, retires under ground about the middle of 

 November, and comes forth again about the middle of 

 April. When it first appears in the spring it discovers 

 very little inclination towards food; but in the height of 

 summer grows voracious : and then as the summer declines 

 its appetite declines ; so that for the last six weeks in 

 autumn it hardly eats at all. Milky plants, such as lettuces, 

 dandelions, sowthistles, are its favourite dish. In a neigh- 

 bouring village one was kept till by tradition it was 



