of Selborne 143 



whether the situation of tliese two different breeds might 

 not be reversed? However, an intelligent friend of mine 

 near Chichester is determined to try the experiment ; 

 and has this autumn, at the hazard of being laughed at , 

 introduced a parcel of black-faced hornless rams among 

 his horned western ewes. The black-faced poll-sheep 

 have the shortest legs and the finest wool. 



As I had hardly ever before travelled these downs at so 

 late a season of the year, I was determined to keep as 

 sharp a look-out as possible so near the southern coast, 

 with respect to the summer short-winged birds of passage. 

 We make great inquiries concerning the withdrawing of 

 the swallow kind, without examining enough into the 

 causes why this tribe is never to be seen in winter ; for, 

 e?itre nous, the disappearing of the latter is more marvellous 

 than that of the former, and much more unaccountable. 

 The hifundtfies, if they please, are certainly capable of 

 migration ; and yet no doubt are often found in a torpid 

 state: but red-starts, nightingales, white-throats, black-caps, 

 etc., etc., are very ill provided for long flights ; have never 

 been once found, as I ever heard of, in a torpid state, and 

 yet can never be supposed, in such troops, from year to 

 year to dodge and elude the eyes of the curious and in- 

 quisitive, which from day to day discern the other small 

 birds that are known to abide our winters. But, notwith- 

 standing all my care, I saw nothing like a summer bird of 

 passage : and, what is more strange, not one wheat-ear, 

 though they abound so in the autumn as to be a consider- 

 able perquisite to the shepherds that take them ; and 

 though many are to be seen to my knowledge all the 

 winter through in many parts of the south of England. 

 The most intelligent shepherds tell me that some few of 

 these birds appear on the downs in March, and then with 

 draw to breed probably in warrens and stone-quarries : 

 now and then a nest is plowed up in a fallow on the downs 

 under a furrow, but it is thought a rarity. At the time of 

 wheat-harvest they begin to be taken in great numbers ; 

 are sent for sale in vast quantities to Brighthelmstone 

 and Tunbridge; and appear at the tables of all the gentry 

 that entertain with any degree of elegance. About 



