88 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 



my suspicions ; and I hope Mr. l may find reason 



give his decision in my favour ; and then, I think, we rm 

 advance this extraordinary provision of nature as a ne 

 instance of the wisdom of God in the creation. 



As yet I have not quite done with my history of tl 

 cedicnemus, or stone-curlew ; for I shall desire a gentlerra 

 in Sussex (near whose house these birds congregate in va 

 flocks in the autumn) to observe nicely when they lea 1 ! 

 him, (if they do leave him), and when they return again i 

 the spring : I was with this gentleman lately, and sa 

 several single birds. 



[I am with the greatest esteem, 

 Your obliged, & most obedient servant 

 GIL : WHITE. 



P.S. Young martins in their nest Septemb r 251 

 Swallows and Martins still appear Octob r yth.] 



1 "Hunter," in the original letter. [R. B. S.] 



