LETTER XXIV. 



T0 the same. 



SELBORNE, May zyth, 1769. 



[EAR SIR, The scarab<eus fullo I know very well, 

 having seen it in collections ; but have never been 

 able to discover one wild in its natural state. 

 Mr. Banks told me he thought it might be found 

 on the sea-coast. 



On the thirteenth of April I went to the sheep- 

 down, where the ring-ousels have been observed 

 to make their appearance at spring and fall, in their way perhaps to 

 the north or south ; and was much pleased to see these birds about 

 the usual spot. We shot a cock and a hen ; they were plump and 

 in high condition. The hen had but very small rudiments of eggs 

 within her, which proves they are late breeders ; whereas those 

 species of the thrush kind that remain with us the whole year have 

 fledged young before that time. In their crops was nothing very 

 distinguishable, but somewhat that seemed like blades of vegetables 

 nearly digested. In autumn they feed on haws and yew-berries, and 

 in the spring on ivy-berries. I dressed one of these birds, and found 

 it juicy and well flavoured. It is remarkable that they malte but a 

 few days' stay in their spring visit, but rest near a fortnight at 



