14-2 SINGING BIRDS. 



the bustard, (otis), the largest British land fowl, 

 does not care to admit a person within so many 

 furlongs. 



III. 



IT was no small matter of satisfaction to me to 

 find that you were not displeased with my little 

 methodus of birds. If there was any merit in the 

 sketch, it must be owing to its punctuality. For 

 many months I carried a list in my pocket of the 

 birds that were to be remarked, and, as I rode or 

 walked about my business, I noted each day the 

 continuance or omission of each bird's song ; so 

 that I am as sure of the certainty of my facts as a 

 man can be of any transaction whatsoever. 



I shall now proceed to answer the several que- 

 ries which you put in your two obliging letters, 

 in the best manner that I am able. Perhaps East- 

 wick, and its environs, where you heard so very 

 few birds, is not a woodland country, and therefore 

 not stocked with such songsters. If you will cast 

 your eye on my last letter, you will find that many 

 species continued to warble after the beginning of 

 July. 



The titlark and yellow-hammer breed late, the 

 latter very late ; and therefore it is no wonder that 

 they protract their song : for I lay it down as a 

 maxim in ornithology, that as long as there is 

 any incubation going on there is music. As to 

 the red-breast and wren, it is well known to the 

 most incurious observer that they whistle the 

 year round, hard frost excepted; especially the 

 latter. 



It was not in my power to procure you a black- 

 cap, or a less reed-sparrow, or sedge-bird alive. 

 As the first is, undoubtedly, and the last, as far 



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