OF SELBORNE. 237 



foul weather : if this should be the case, then the inap- 

 titude for flying arises only from an eagerness for food ; 

 as sheep are observed to be very intent on grazing 

 against stormy wet evenings. 



I am, &c. &c. 



LETTER XL 



TO THE SAME. 

 DEAR SIR, SELBORNE, Feb. 8, 1772. 



WHEN I ride about in the winter, and see such pro- 

 digious flocks of various kinds of birds, I cannot help 

 admiring at these congregations, and wishing that it 

 was in my power to account for those appearances 

 almost peculiar to the season. The two great motives 

 which regulate the proceedings of the brute creation are 

 love and hunger; the former incites animals to per- 

 petuate their kind, the latter induces them to preserve 

 individuals : whether either of these should seem to be 

 the ruling passion in the matter of congregating is to be 

 considered. As to love, that is out of the question at 

 a time of the year when that soft passion is not in- 

 dulged ; besides, during the amorous season, such a 

 jealousy prevails between the male birds, that they can 

 hardly bear to be together in the same hedge or field. 

 Most of the singing and elation of spirits of that time 

 seems to me to be the effect of rivalry and emulation : 

 and it is to this spirit of jealousy that I chiefly attribute 

 the equal dispersion of birds in the spring over the face 

 of the country. 



Now as to the business of food : as these animals are 

 actuated by instinct to hunt for necessary food, they 

 should not, one would suppose, crowd together in pur- 

 suit of sustenance at a time when it is most likely to 

 fail; yet such associations do take place in hard weather 



