NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 25 



prospects and rides round Lewes are most lovely ! [Mr. Ray 

 mentions the South Downs more than once in his works, 

 as the most engaging scenes he had ever met with.] 



As I rode along near the coast I kept a very sharp 

 look-out in the lanes and woods, hoping I might, at this 

 time of the year, have discovered some of the summer 

 short-winged birds of passage crowding towards the coast 

 in order for their departure : but it was very extraordinary 

 that I never saw a redstart, white-throat, black-cap, un- 

 crested wren, flycatcher, &c. And I remember to have 

 made the same remark in former years, as I usually come 

 to this place annually about this time. The birds most 

 common along the coast, at present, are the stone-chatters, 

 winchats, buntings, linnets, some few wheat-ears, titlarks, 

 &c. Swallows and house-martins abound yet, induced to 

 prolong their stay by this soft, still, dry season. 



A land tortoise, which has been kept for thirty years 

 in a little walled court belonging to the house where I 

 now am visiting, retires under ground about the middle 

 of November, and comes forth again about the middle 

 of April. When it first appears in the spring it discovers 

 very little inclination towards food ; but in the height of 

 summer grows voracious ; and then as the summer declines 

 its appetite declines ; so that for the last six weeks in 

 autumn it hardly eats at all. Milky plants, such as lettuces, 

 dandelions, sowthistles, are its favourite dish. In a neigh- 

 bouring village one was kept till by tradition it was sup- 

 posed to be an hundred years old. An instance of vast 

 longevity in such a poor reptile ! 



[I shall presume on being favoured with more of your 

 pleasing communications, which I greatly value : and am, 

 with the greatest regard, 



Your obliged servant 



GIL : WHITE. 



On the i8th I go hence.] 



VOL. II. 



