OF SELBORNE. 219 



the reed sparrow which I mentioned to you (Passer 

 arundinaceus minor, RAH 3 ) is a soft-billed bird, and 

 most probably migrates hence before winter ; whereas 

 the bird you kept (Passer torquatus, RAII*) abides all 

 the year, and is a thick-billed bird. I question whe- 

 ther the latter be much of a songster; but in this 

 matter I want to be better informed 5 . The former has 

 a variety of hurrying notes, and sings all night. Some 

 part of the song of the former, I suspect, * attributed 

 to the latter. We have plenty of the soft-billed sort ; 

 which Mr. Pennant had entirely left out of his British 

 Zoology, till I reminded him of his omission. See 

 British Zoology last published, p. 16 6 . 



I have somewhat to advance on the different manners 

 in which different birds fly and walk ; but as this is a 

 subject that I have not enough considered, and is of 

 such a nature as not to be contained in a small space, 

 I shall say nothing farther about it at present 7 . 



No doubt the reason why the sex of birds in their 

 first plumage is so difficult to be distinguished is, as 

 you say, " because they are not to pair and discharge 

 their parental functions till the ensuing spring." As 

 colours seem to be the chief external sexual distinction 

 in many birds, these colours do not take place till 

 sexual attachments begin to obtain. And the case is 

 the same in quadrupeds ; among whom, in their younger 

 days, the sexes differ but little : but, as they advance 

 to maturity, horns and shaggy manes, beards and 

 brawny necks, &c. &c. strongly discriminate the male 

 from the female. We may instance still farther in our 

 own species, where a beard and stronger features are 



3 [The sedge warbler, Salicaria Phragmitis, SELB.] 



4 [The reed bunting, Emberiza Schccniclus, LINN.] 



5 See on this subject Mr. Herbert's note on Letter XXIV. to Pennant. 

 E. T. B. 



6 See Letter XXV. to Mr. Pennant. [See also Letters XXIV. and 

 XXVI.] 



i See Letter XLII. to Mr. Bafrington. 



