OF SELBORNR. 



89 



the bottom of the thorns ; yet it would not come into 

 fair sight: but in a morning early, and when undis- 

 turbed, it sings on the top of a twig, gaping and shivering 

 with its wings. Mr. Ray himself had no knowledge of 

 this bird, but received his account from Mr. Johnson, 

 who apparently confounds it with the Reguli non cristati, 

 from which it it is very distinct. See Ray's Philoso- 

 phical Letters, p. 108 2 . 



The flycatcher (Stoparola) has not yet appeared : it 

 usually breeds in my vine. 



frequent thorn bushes by the side of rivers, and Sylv. Turdoi'des, common 

 in Holland, and Sylv. aquatica which is closely allied to Sylv. Phragmitis, 

 have both spotted eggs. I know not therefore to what species I can 

 refer the nest and egg which is in my possession. W. H. 



W. H. Herbert, del. 



8 This bird is not uncommon in Scotland, where its singular note is 

 popularly supposed to be caused by a species of rattlesnake, the con- 

 cealed habits of the bird rendering it seldom seen. Although I have 

 times innumerable listened to it, I have rarely seen it ; and only once 

 actually got within a very short distance of one which was perched on 

 the top of a furze bush in Musselburgh Haugh, near Edinburgh, trilling 

 its notes and shivering its wings, as White describes. In Ayrshire I 

 have heard it long after sunset ; though I should scarcely be disposed to 

 apply to it the term whisper, for it may be heard at the distance of a 

 quarter of a mile. REMME. 



