SALICARIA. 61 



These reflections made so strong an impression on my 

 imagination, that they became productive of a composition, 

 that may perhaps amuse you for a quarter of an hour when 

 next I have the honour of writing to you. 



LETTER XXIV. 



TO THOMAS PENNANT, ESQ. 



SELBORNE, May 29, 1769. 



DEAR SIR, The scarabceus fullo I know very well, having 

 seen it in collections ; but have never -been able to discover 

 one wild in its natural state. Mr Banks told me he thought 

 it might be found on the sea-coast. 



On the 1 3th of April, I went to the sheep-down, where the 

 ringousels have been observed to make their appearance at 

 spring and fall, in their way, perhaps, to the north or south ; 

 and was much pleased to see three birds about the usual spot. 

 We shot a cock and a hen ; they were plump and in high 

 condition. The hen had but very small rudiments of eggs 

 within her, which proves they are late breeders ; whereas those 

 species of the thrush kind that remain with us the whole year 

 have fledged young before that time. In their crops was 

 nothing very distinguishable, but somewhat that seemed like 

 blades of vegetables nearly digested. In autumn they feed on 

 haws and yew-berries, and in the spring on ivy-berries. I 

 dressed one of these birds, and found it juicy and well-flavoured. 

 It is remarkable that they make but a few days' stay in their 

 spring visit, but rest near a fortnight at Michaelmas. These 

 birds, from the observations of three springs and two autumns, 

 are most punctual in their return ; and exhibit a new migration 

 unnoticed by the writers, who supposed they never were to be 

 seen in any of the southern counties. 



One of my neighbours lately brought me a new salicaria, 

 which, at first, I suspected might have proved your willow- 

 lark,* but on a nicer examination, it answered much better to 

 the description of that species which you shot at Revesby, in 

 Lincolnshire. My bird I describe thus : It is a size less 

 than the grasshopper-lark ; the head, back, and coverts of the 

 wings, of a dusky brown, without the dark spots of the grass- 

 hopper-lark ; over each eye is a milk-white stroke ; the chin 

 and throat are white, and the under parts of a yellowish white ; 



* For this salicaria, see Letter XXVI. 



