The Natural History of Selborne 



retire under the stables, where they remain 

 till the return of spring. Do they lie in 

 a torpid state ? if they do not, how are 

 they supported ? 



The note of the white-throat, which is 

 continually repeated, and often attended 

 with odd gesticulations on the wing, is 

 harsh and displeasing. These birds seem 

 of a pugnacious disposition ; for they 

 sing with an erected crest and attitudes 

 of rivalry and defiance ; are shy and wild 

 in breeding-time, avoiding neighbour- 

 hoods, and haunting lonely lanes and 

 commons ; nay even the very tops of 

 the Sussex downs, where there are bushes 

 and covert ; but in July and August they 

 bring their broods into gardens and 

 orchards, and make great havoc among 

 the summer-fruits. 



The black-cap has in common a full, 

 sweet, deep, loud, and wild pipe ; yet 

 that strain is of short continuance, and 

 his motions are desultory ; but when that 

 bird sits calmly and engages in song in 

 earnest, he pours forth very sweet, but 

 inward melody, and expresses great 

 variety of soft and gentle modulations, 

 superior perhaps to those of any of our 

 warblers, the nightingale excepted. 



Black-caps mostly haunt orchards and 

 gardens ; while they warble their throats 

 are wonderfully distended. 



The song of the redstart is superior, 

 though somewhat like that of the white- 

 throat ; some birds have a few more 

 notes than others. Sitting very placidly 



