70 THE NATURAL HISTORY 



this year than common, for some were seen at the usual hill on 

 the fourth of this month. 



An observing Devonshire gentleman tells me that they frequent 

 some parts of Dartmoor, and breed there ; but leave those haunts 

 about the end of September or beginning of October, and return 

 again about the end of March. 



Another intelligent person assures me that they breed in great 

 abundance all over the Peak of Derby, and are called there Tor- 

 ousels ; withdraw in October and November, and return in spring. 

 This information seems to throw some light on my new migration. 



Scopoli's l new work (which I have just procured) has it's merit 

 in ascertaining many of the birds of the Tirol and Carniola. 

 Monographers, come from whence they may, have, I think, fair 

 pretence to challenge some regard and approbation from the 

 lovers of natural history ; for, as no man can alone investigate all 

 the works of nature, these partial writers may, each in their 

 department, be more accurate in their discoveries, and freer from 

 errors, than more general writers ; and so by degrees may pave 

 the way to an universal correct natural history. Not that Scopoli 

 is so circumstantial and attentive to the life and conversation of 

 his birds as I could wish : he advances some false facts ; as when 

 he says of the hirundo urbica that " pullos extra nidum non nutrit ". 

 This assertion I know to be wrong from repeated observation 

 this summer; for house-martins do feed their young flying, 

 though it must be acknowledged not so commonly as the house- 

 swallow ; and the feat is done in so quick a manner as not to be 

 perceptible to indifferent observers. He also advances some (I 

 was going to say) improbable facts ; as when he says of the 

 woodcock that "pullos rostro portal fugiens ab hoste". But 

 candour forbids me to say absolutely that any fact is false, 

 because I have never been witness to such a fact. I have only 

 to remark that the long unwieldy bill of the woodcock is perhaps 

 the worst adapted of any among the winged creation for such a 

 feat of natural affection.' 2 



I am, &c. 



1 Annus Primus Historico-Naturalis. 



2 [Prof. Newton contributed the following succinct note to Bell's edition : 

 ' ' That the bill assists materially in carrying off and particularly in steadying the 

 young bird while being carried seems to be established; but the most efficient 

 instruments are the parent's thighs, beneath which the chick is grasped, while the 

 head and bill are recurved beneath ".] 



