The Natural History of Selborne 187 



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, uncrested wren, flycatcher, &c. 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, winchats, buntings, 

 linnets, some few wheat-ears, titlarks, &c. 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 neighbouring 

 village one was kept till by tradition it was supposed to be an 

 hundred years old. An instance of vast longevity in such a poor 

 reptile ! x 



1 Still older instances are now on record. ED. 



