190 BIRDS OF PASSAGE. 



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 [December 

 9th] , 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, entre nous, the 

 disappearing of the latter is more marvellous than 

 that of the former, and much more unaccountable. 

 The hirundines, 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, &c. &c. 

 are very ill provided for long flights ; have never 

 been once found, that 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 inquisitive, which from 

 day to day discern the other small birds that are 

 known to abide our winters. But, notwithstand- 

 ing all my care, I saw nothing like a summer 

 bird of passage ; and what is more strange, not 

 one wheatear, though they abound so in the 

 autumn as to be a considerable 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 withdraw to breed, probably, in warrens and 

 stone- quarries: now and then a nest is ploughed 

 up in a fallow on the downs under a furrow, 

 but it is thought a rarity. At the time of wheat- 



