224 The Natural History of Selborne 



black-faced hornless rams among his horned western ewes. The 

 black-faced poll-sheep have the shortest legs and the finest wool. 



As I had hardly ever before travelled these downs at so late a 

 season of the year, I was determined to keep as sharp a look-out as 

 possible so near the southern coast, with respect to the summer 

 short-winged birds of passage. We make great inquiries concerning 

 the withdrawing of the swallow-kind, without examining enough 

 into the causes why this tribe is never to be seen in winter ; for, 

 entre nous, the disappearing of the latter is more marvellous than 

 that of the former, and much more unaccountable. The hirundines, 

 if they please, are certainly capable of migration, and yet no doubt 

 are often found in a torpid state ; but redstarts, nightingales, white- 

 throats, black-caps, &c. &c., are very ill provided for long flights ; 

 have never been once found, as I ever heard of, 1 in a torpid state ; 

 and yet can never be supposed, in such troops, from year to year to 

 dodge and elude the eyes of the curious and inquisitive, which from 

 day to day discern the other small birds that are known to abide our 

 winters. But, notwithstanding all my care, I saw nothing like a 

 summer bird of passage ; and, what is more strange, not one wheat- 

 ear, though they abound so in the autumn as to be a considerable 

 perquisite to the shepherds that take them ; and though many are to 

 be seen to my knowledge all the winter through in many parts of 

 the south of England. The most intelligent shepherds tell me that 

 some few of these birds appear on the downs in March, and then 

 withdraw to breed probably in warrens and stone-quarries ; now and 

 then a nest is ploughed up in a fallow on the downs under a furrow, 

 but it is thought a rarity. At the time of wheat- harvest they begin 

 to be taken in great numbers ; are sent for sale in vast quantities to 

 Brighthelmstone [Brighton] and Tunbridge ; and appear at the 

 tables of all the gentry that entertain with any degree of elegance. 

 About Michaelmas they retire and are seen no more till March. 

 Though these birds are, when in season, in great plenty on the 

 south downs round Lewes, yet at East Bourn [Eastbourne], which 

 is the eastern extremity of those downs, they abound much more. 



1 A good example of a phrase, in itself excellent English, but now, by mere 

 disuse, degraded into a vulgarism. ED. 



