The Natural History of Selborne 7 1 



rass hopper-warbler 



Landrail, Rallus crex. 



Largest willow-wren, Motacilla trochilus. 



Redstart, Motacilla phanicurus. 



Goat-sucker, or fern-owl, Caprimulgus europ<eus. 



Fly-catcher, Muscicapa grisola. 



The fly-catcher (sfoparola) has not yet appeared ; it usually breeds 

 in my vine. The redstart begins to sing ; its note is short and im- 

 perfect, but is continued till about the middle of June. The willow- 

 wrens (the smaller sort) are horrid pests in a garden, destroying the 

 peas, cherries, currants, &c. ; and are so tame that a gun will not 

 scare them. 



My countrymen talk much of a bird that makes a clatter with its 

 bill against a dead bough, or some old pales, calling it a jarbird. I 

 procured one to be shot in the very fact ; it proved to be the Sitta 

 europcea (the nuthatch). Mr. Ray says that the less spotted wood- 

 pecker does the same. This noise may be heard a furlong or more. 



Now is the only time to ascertain the short-winged summer birds ; 

 for, when the leaf is out, there is no making any remarks on such a 

 restless tribe ; and, when once the young begin to appear, it is all 

 confusion : there is no distinction of genus, species, or sex. 



In breeding-time snipes play over the moors, piping and humming : 

 they always hum as they are descending. Is not their hum ventri- 

 loquous like that of the turkey ? Some suspect it is made by their 

 wings. 



