NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 159 



simplicity if you ask them whether the situation of these 

 two different breeds might not be reversed 1 However, an 

 intelligent friend of mine near Ohichester 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, entre nous, 

 the disappearing of the latter is more marvellous than that 

 of the former, and much more unaccountable. The hirun- 

 dines, 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, blackcaps, 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 inquisitive, which from day 

 to day discern the other small birds that are known to abide 

 our winters. But, notwithstanding 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 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 : 



