NA TURAL HIS TOR Y OF SELBORNE. 69 



On the thirteenth of April I went to the sheep-down, where the 

 ring-ousels have been observed to make their appearance at spring 

 and fall, in their way perhaps to the north or south ; and was much 

 pleased to see these birds about the usual spot. We shot a cock 

 and a hen ; they were plump and in high condition! The hen had 

 but very small rudiments of eggs within her, which proves they are 

 late breeders ; whereas those species of the thrush kind that remain 

 with us the whole year have fledged young before that time. In 

 their crops was nothing very distinguishable, but somewhat that 

 seemed like blades of vegetables nearly digested. In autumn they 

 feed on haws and yew-berries, and in the spring on ivy-berries. I 



COCKCHAFER. 



dressed one of these birds, and found it juicy and well flavoured. 

 It is remarkable that they make but a few days' stay in their spring 

 visit, but rest near a fortnight at Michaelmas. These birds, from 

 the observations of three springs and two autumns, are most punctual 

 in their return ; and exhibit a new migration unnoticed by the 

 writers, who supposed they never were to be seen in any southern 

 countries. 



One of my neighbours lately brought me a new salicaria, which 

 at first I suspected might have proved your willow-lark,* but, on a 

 nicer examination, it answered much better to the description of 

 that species which you shot at Revesby,t in Lincolnshire. My bird 



Julius Pollux, B. 9, ch. 7, says, 17 Se \i.r\\Q\ovQ-(\, u>oi/ TTT^VOV e&riv, yv Kol 

 KaAoucru', r/TOt CK TTJS ai'^rjTews TWV joirjAwv TJ crvv TTJ av6ri<rei yivo^evov. " The melolonthe 

 is a winged animal, which they also call melolanthe, either from the bloom of apples, 'or 

 its occurring with this bloom." 



Stobcens quotes from Herodes (Sermo 76), the boys' game with the melolonthse, thus 

 TJ Ta.i.cn fj.r)\o\ovOr)s ajujaaT 1 e^aTrruv TOV (ceer/ceov, /uot TOV ye'poi'ra Ato|3rjTai. "Or tieing 

 strings of tow to the cockchafers, jeer at the old man for me." 



* For this Salicaria see next letter. f The seat of Sir Joseph Banks. 



