LETTER XLI 1 



TO THE SAME 



It is matter of curious inquiry to trace out how those 

 species of soft-billed birds that continue with us the winter 

 through, subsist during the dead months. The imbecility 

 of birds seems not to be the only reason why they shun 

 the rigour of our winters ; for the robust wry-neck (so 

 much resembling the hardy race of wood-peckers) migrates, 

 while the feeble little golden-crowned wren, that shadow of 

 a bird, braves our severest frosts without availing him- 

 self of houses or villages, to which most of our winter 

 birds crowd in distressful seasons, while this keeps aloof 

 in fields and woods ; but perhaps this may be the reason 

 why they may often perish, and why they are almost as 

 rare as any bird we know. 



I have no reason to doubt but that the soft-billed 

 birds, which winter with us, subsist chiefly on insects in 

 their aurelia state. All the species of wagtails in severe 

 weather haunt shallow streams near their spring-heads, 

 where they never freeze ; and, by wading, pick out the 

 aurelias of the genus of Phryganece, 2 &c. 



Hedge-sparrows frequent sinks and gutters in hard 

 weather, where they pick up crumbs and other sweepings : 

 and in mild weather they procure worms, which are 

 stirring every month in the year, as any one may see 



1 This and the following letters are mostly undated, and never really formed 

 part of the Pennant correspondence ; they were added to complete the work 

 when Gilbert White had decided on publication. [R. B. S.] 



2 See Derham's " Physico-theology," p. 235 [G. W.], and note, Letter XIII, 

 antea, p. 39. [R. B. S.] 



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