OF SELBORNE 85 



end of it. These scarabs are the constant food of caprimulgi, or 

 fern-owls, through that period. They abound on the chalky 

 downs and in some sandy districts, but not in the clays. 



In the garden of the Black-bear inn in the town of Reading is 

 a stream or canal running under the stables and out into the 

 fields on the other side of the road : in this water are many carps, 

 which lie rolling about in sight, being fed by travellers, who 

 amuse themselves by tossing them bread : but as soon as the 

 weather grows at all severe these fishes are no longer seen, 

 because they retire under the stables, where they remain till the 

 return of spring. Do they lie in a torpid state ? if they do not, 

 how are they supported ? 



The note of the white-throat, which is continually repeated, 

 and often attended with odd gesticulations on the wing, is harsh 

 and displeasing. 1 These birds seem of a pugnacious disposition ; 

 for they sing with an erected crest and attitudes of rivalry and 

 defiance ; are shy and wild in breeding-time, avoiding neigh- 

 bourhoods, and haunting lonely lanes and commons ; nay even 

 the very tops of the Sussex-downs, where there are bushes and 

 covert ; but in July and August they bring their broods into 

 gardens and orchards, and make great havock among the summer- 

 fruits. 



The black-cap has in common a full, sweet, deep, loud, and 

 wild pipe ; yet that strain is of short continuance, and his motions 

 are desultory ; but when that bird sits calmly and engages in 

 song in earnest, he pours forth very sweet, but inward melody, 

 and expresses great variety of soft and gentle modulations, 

 superior perhaps to those of any of our warblers, the nightingale 

 excepted. 



Black-caps mostly haunt orchards and gardens ; while they 

 warble their throats are wonderfully distended. 



The song of the redstart is superior, though somewhat like 

 that of the white-throat : some birds have a few more notes 



1 [White's impressions of the songs of birds are always interesting, and in this 

 and the three following paragraphs we have good evidence of his care in noting 

 them ; but it is singular that he should have found the vivacious song of the 

 whitethroat displeasing, in spite of its lack of sweetness. Objection has been 

 made to this account of the whitethroat on the ground that it is not a "shy and 

 wild bird in breeding time"; and Mr. Harting has even suggested that White 

 confused it with the lesser whitethroat. But it would be equally untrue to describe 

 the latter as wild or shy where it is common, for it frequently breeds in gardens ; 

 and its song and attitude when singing are inconsistent with White's description. 

 White is only at fault in slightly exaggerating the fact that the greater whitethroat 

 is, in the breeding season, a bird of the fields and hedgerows.] 



