13(J NATURAL HISTORY 



Please to let me hear if my female moose corre- 

 sponds with that you saw ; and whether you think still 

 that the American moose and European elk are the 

 same creature. 



I am, 

 With the greatest esteem, &c. 



LETTER XXIX. 



TO THE SAME. 

 DEAR SIR, SELBOKNE, May 12, 1770. 



LAST month we had such a series of cold turbulent 

 weather, such a constant succession of frost, and snow, 

 and hail, and tempest, that the regular migration or 

 appearance of the summer birds was much interrupted. 

 Some did not show themselves (at least were not heard) 

 till weeks after their usual time, as the blackcap and 

 whitethroat ; and some have not been heard yet, as the 

 grasshopper lark and largest willow wren. As to the 

 flycatcher, I have not seen it: it is indeed one of the 

 latest, but should appear about this time: and yet, 

 amidst all this meteorous strife and war of the elements, 

 two swallows discovered themselves as long ago as the 

 llth of April, in frost and snow; but they withdrew 

 quickly, and were not visible again for many days. 

 House martins, which are always more backward than 

 swallows, were not observed till May came in. 



Among the monogamous birds several are to be 

 found, after pairing- time, single, and of each sex : but 

 whether this state of celibacy is matter of choice or 

 necessity, is not so easily discoverable. When the 

 house sparrows deprive my martins of their nests, as 

 soon as I cause one to be shot, the other, be it cock or 

 hen, presently procures a mate, and so for several 

 times following. 



