126 The Natural History 



should be able to account for the motions and manner of 

 life of the animals of his own Fawia. 



Faunists, as you observe, are too apt to acquiesce in 

 bare descriptions, and a few synonyms : the reason is 

 plain j because all that may be done at home in a man's 

 study, but the investigation of the life and conversation 

 of animals, is a concern of much more trouble and 

 difficuhy, and is not to be attained but by the active 

 and inquisitive, and by those that reside much in the 

 country. 



Foreign systematics are, I observe, much too vague in 

 their specific differences ; which are almost universally 

 constituted by one or two particular marks, the rest of 

 the description running in general terms. But our 

 countryman, the excellent Mr. Ray, is the only describer 

 that conveys some precise idea in every term or word, 

 maintaining his superiority over his followers and 

 imitators in spite of the advantage of fresh discoveries 

 and modern information. 



At this distance of years it is not in my power to 

 recollect at what periods woodcocks used to be sluggish 

 or alert when I was a sportsman ; but, upon my mention- 

 ing this circumstance to a friend, he thinks he has 

 observed them to be remarkably listless against snowy 

 foul weather : if this should be the case, then the inapti- 

 tude for flying arises only from an eagerness for food ; as 

 sheep are observed to be very intent on grazing against 

 stormy wet evenings. 



I am, etc., etc. 



LETTER XI 



TO THE HONOURABLE DAINES BARRINGTON 



Selborne, Feb. 8, 1772. 

 Dear Sir, 



When I ride about in the winter, and see such prodigious 

 flocks of various kinds of birds, I cannot help admiring 

 at these congregations, and wishing that it was in my 



